From The First Eighteen Decanates Analyzed:
GEMINI—3rd Decanate. A huge bear—URSA MAJOR—traveling about the pole star in a forward direction depicts among the constellations the Aquarius decanate of Gemini. The bear, whose restless activity and omnivorous nature is typical of mentality, in this case moves as does the objective mind, in the direction of events. And it is huge in size to indicate the immense power that may be exercised by thought.
This is the scientific decanate of the sign of thought. Those born under it are capable of accomplishing great things through the exercise of their minds. They tend chiefly to rely upon reason, therefore, should not only train their minds, which is readily accomplished, but should also cultivate idealism and religion. Otherwise their efforts crystallize and become self-centered.
Nero, the Roman Emperor, who had wonderful talent, but could burn Rome for his own amusement so self-centered had he become, had the Sun in this section of the heavens at his birth. On the other hand, as indicating the better qualities of this decanate, Nicholas Culpepper, author of the “Herbal” and by his friends said to be the best physician that ever lived, had his Moon here. And Jay Gould, whose manipulation of railroad securities wrecked so many others and made for himself such a huge fortune, had his Personality located in this last decanate of Gemini. It is the decanate of REASON.
From Letters to the Sage:
Josephine Warner was born on June 12, 1843, in Litchfield, Connecticut, the only child of Elijah B. and Fanny Harrington Warner. After the death of her mother, Josephine was raised by maternal relatives and Elijah took a second wife. In the 1860s, Josephine married James T. Cables, a Civil War veteran from Litchfield County, and was living there with him as of the 1870 census. By 1880 they had relocated to Rochester, New York where the census finds future Theosophist and H.B. of L. member William B. Shelley and his wife Caroline residing with the Cables family, which also includes James’s younger sister Cherry and her husband George Garland. After divorcing Cables, Josephine married William Farrington Aldrich on April 15, 1889, one month (or several, depending on the source) after the birth of their son William Farrington Aldrich III. She relocated with them to Shelby County, Alabama where Aldrich operated a coal mine and created a model company town named Aldrich, now part of Montevallo, where they built a palatial home called Rajah Lodge. William served two terms in the US Congress (1897-1901), during which Josephine resided in Washington, DC, where she was buried in Rock Creek cemetery following her death on August 12, 1917, in Birmingham, Alabama. When her correspondence with Johnson began she was corresponding secretary of the American Board of Control of the Theosophical Society. She was one of the first recruits to the newly formed H.B. of L., pledging on April 14, 1885, but after marrying Aldrich and moving to Alabama she abandoned occult involvements and focused her energies on philanthropy. An 1893 biographical directory identifies her as vice-president of both the Woman’s National Industrial League and the Woman’s National Liberal Union. The main theme of her correspondence with Johnson is the stress and tension within the American TS as a result of the creation of the H.B. of L., and the hostility she suffered from Theosophists over her involvement in the secret society.
Rochester
[undated, probably 1884]
Dear Brother
Yours came this morning. What shall I do send you the names of persons who I think will be interested in your work and might subscribe for it, or only even such as I know will surely subscribe. Can you send me a sample copy, I will subscribe myself and give you the name of Emily Hobbs[1] and may send more after hearing from you again and will send the piece soon as you tell me you are ready and will write Mrs Hobbs who is in Toronto and have her do the same
I sincerely trust you will meet with success. I would like to say more to you but time forbids but I will say just enough to let you know I have received and appreciate your letters
Very kindly yours
Mrs J C Cables
Rochester
[undated, probably 1884]
Dear Sir and Brother
Please find enclosed seven (7) dollars for which please send to the Coress’ Secretary theosophical society 2 Sophia Street Rochester NY—the eleven back numbers also the issue for the year—And please send the new issue to Miss Lucy A Laing[2] Williamson Wayne County NY—the amount enclosed covers the whole as I understand it If not correct let me know—I have been ill or should have attended to it before I can not promise more than this until the books come out and are seen then I may do more
Wishing you great success I am Yours Fraternaly
Mrs J H Cables
Corresponding Secretary
Ts—
Rochester
February 12, 188[4?]
Dear Sir
Yours came this morning You made the same request of me some time ago and I did try to send the names out I am so beset with letters to know about these strange “old new things” that I am nearly killed—I suppose I ought to give you the names of those who inquire of me and I will do so I will get Mr. Shelley or my husband to look over my file of letters and draw them off, or some of them at least. We are much pleased with the “Platonist” I wish we could offer fifty copys of to loan out—I will send some of the names with this of the Society[.] Parker Pillsbury[3] address is Concord New Hampshire Any of the persons in the list of names can be reached at my place as nearly all of them are in daily communication here I have no good list made out and if I wait for the proper “moment to get it done & pass along again as it has done before
Begging pardon for neglect and such imperfect work
I am Humbly
Yours
Mrs JW Cables
Rochester
[undated, probably fall of 1885]
Dear Brother
Send me soon as may be the copy of the Manuscripts you hold for me this you will do I know—O!! I have had such scourging about the H.B. of L. that I am threadbare. I would not care at all but I do not know—if I really did know I was right—I would fear nothing but if I should be a blind leader of the blind—Tell me truly my brother what you do think is this the real brotherhood of Luxor & is it well to gain powers by practices and if so is this the real pure Yog_[4] I have always feared for mirror gazing—so tell me what you think and why and I shall hold it sacred—I am lost in distress of these things I do hope you will meet with the ABC[5] next year unless you and I are both expelled before that time- four out of nine is not a proper representation I really do need to see you so much I do so wish you could come and stay some weeks with me you are welcome I could give you a room where you could write—I do not know what will be my jurisdiction at all if you do will you tell me when you can—Let me know soon you see I have as yet no instructions to give Mr Kenyon[6] will do so soon as I get them—
Very Fraternally
Yours Josephine Cables
The Theosophical Society
American Board of Control
Rochester
October 20, 188[5?]
Dear Brother
I was glad to get your letter this morning—and so glad that you at least are grand enough to wait and think before threatening to “publish in every paper in the union the smallness manner and fraud of the H.B. of L”.[7] please let me speak plainly to you –You are wise and great and I am obliged and expected to know all and see all from the beginning and say nothing which I have done—I hope our A.B.C. will not now make itself famous for its lack of prudence and malice and show its ignorance also—
I have begged of Mr Page to wait and not oppose himself to a wall which will surely crush him—I did expect the teachers here to have been appointed from America—hence the delay—Mr Davidson is unfortunate in some of his expressions and dislikes and some of them have reached some of our fellows and then he opened a very disagreeable correspondence with Mr W. Q. Judge who did not think well of the HB of L in the first place—I flew to the rescue but it was dreadfully unfortunate and I feel assured that all this present trouble has arisen from that—You know the headquarters of India are opposed to the H.B. of L. also. I don’t know what they will do with you and I but I am ready, all true masters must be friendly and to them I bend my gaze. I suppose we you and I must be as wise as serpents and harmless &c. & return soft answers as I am sorry to say some of our superiors have not done but we are all children and must grow I suppose—I hope the HB of L will give us great wisdom and teach us how to clear the clouds away by the light of Truth
Excuse me for speaking plainly to you as I have not done to any one before and trust it as perfectly confidential
In great haste
Fraternally yours
Josephine H Cables
The Theosophical Society
American Board of Control
Rochester
December 1, 188[5]
Dear Brother
I keep troubling you but I cannot get at things—And I neglect to ask you in my last this question—I am to accept people or only initiate them after they have been accepted abroad?[8] And what about the six mysteries?
We haven’t them—Mr Sasserville[9] has been ill for some days or he would have copied the papers so I could have returned them but we will attend to it soon. I suppose it will take time to get regulated as it has the theosophical work—
With Great Kindness
Josephine H Cables
[undated, probably late 1885 or early 1886]
My Dear Brother
The way seems dark to me but I shall not falter, I shall try to know and shall be so very careful but I have been advised by those dear to me in these words—You have thought the HB of L a good thing and have got your friends into it and to repair your wrong you must publicly declare that you renounce it and that its teachings are dangerous and will lead people into black magic &c &c &c This I cannot do without knowing. I am given to understand that I am to blame for the whole movement in America—and the blood of all will be on my head—I would not blindly lead the blind not for the universe but I must know—and I shall not be rash —I shall wait and watch and work my brother you can see what my position is and although women are rash and impulsive—I shall not disappoint you I shall be reasonable and resolute—I want you to call me soon as you get this if you know—and you and I to judge of the Eligibitely of the candidate, are they first to apply to headquarters—(sc)[10] I have two ladies here at my house one from California and one from Montana They wish to be initiated here get their instructions &c. Now how would you proceed in such a case and how shall I know I am not encroaching upon your territory I would not do this knowingly and what about the fees and dues I am very anxious to know soon as possible as these ladies are waiting your letter—Must all candidates apply be accepted pay their fees and then come to us for initiation—please tell me this soon as possible I shall hate to trouble you for I know you must like me be oppressed with many cares but others are waiting—
Always truly
Josephine H Cables
[1] Joined the Rochester TS lodge, entered July 27, 1882, Theosophical Society General Register Vol. I, http://www.theartarchives.org.
[2] Joined the Rochester TS lodge, entered October 12, 1882, Theosophical Society General Register Vol. I, http://www.theartarchives.org. She joined the H.B. of L. on July 9, 1885.
[3] Parker Pillsbury (1809-98) had been a Congregationalist minister when his license to preach was revoked in 1840 for his abolitionist activities. He edited two abolitionist periodicals, the Herald of Freedom in the 1840s and the National Anti-Slavery Standard in the 1860s, and later co-edited Revolution, a feminist weekly, with Elizabeth Cady Stanton. He was also active in support of the Free Religious Association. In January 1882 he was one of fourteen TS members applying to form a branch in Rochester. His memoirs, Acts of the Anti-Slavery Apostles, were published in 1883.
[4] This is the only instance in these letters in which the H.B. of L. is explicitly equated with yoga.
[5] Amkperican Board of Control
[6] W.J.C. Kenyon; see his letter in this volume.
[7] A threat presumably made by Elliott Page in a letter to Cables, in light of subsequent references to him and malice on the TS Board of Control.
[8] This indicates that Cables was acting as an H.B. of L. lodge leader at the time, which dates this letter to 1885; see the introduction to this volume for a discussion.
[9] Ernest Sasserville; see his letter in this volume.
[10] I.e., Scotland, which was the H.B. of L. headquarters until Davidson left for America.
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