Isis very much unveiled, being the story of the great Mahatma hoax — Reading Notes

The Structure of the Attack

The book is divided into three parts plus a postscript. Part I narrates 'The Story of the Great Mahatma Hoax' in thirteen short chapters, from 'No Mahatmas, no Members!' through 'The Climax of Theosophic Brotherhood' to 'Questions and Challenges.' Part II collects 'Answers and Theosophistries' from officials, prominent members, and private members. Part III is 'A General Rejoinder' titled 'Last Shreds of the Veil of Isis.' The postscript covers 'Mr. Judge’s Mahatma at Bay' and includes a reply from Judge and an 'Appreciation' of that reply. This layered structure lets readers follow the controversy as it unfolded.

The Besant Letter as Internal Evidence

A crucial excerpt is a letter from Annie Besant, reproduced in the preface. She describes reading Garrett’s opening chapters and initially thinking 'Chestnuts!' because the old Psychical Research exposure had not killed the society. She explains that she and others had read the Psychical Report, analysed it, and joined anyway. But she concedes that as Garrett’s 'newer case' proceeded, 'the situation altered.' She states that 'the details are too precise, and supported by too much evidence' to escape the conclusion that a 'primâ facie case has been established against Mr. Judge.' This internal admission is the book’s central piece of evidence.

The Challenge to Judge and the Society

Besant’s letter also issues a direct challenge to W.Q. Judge, the Theosophical Society’s vice-president. She demands a 'crushing, triumphant reply' and warns that if he declines to answer, she will 'sadly and reluctantly' leave the society. She appeals to 'all honest Theosophists' to pressure Judge into responding. Garrett frames this as the climax of his exposure: the high-priesthood turning on itself. The book includes facsimiles of Mahatma letters and of Judge’s handwriting, allowing readers to compare and judge the authenticity claims.

Reading the Facsimiles and Appendices

The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations and facsimiles, including portraits of Blavatsky, Besant, and Olcott, the 'Mahatma’s Seal,' the 'Envelope Trick,' and facsimiles of Mahatma missives and Judge’s handwriting. These visual documents are integral to Garrett’s argument. Readers should examine them alongside the text, as they are referenced directly. The postscript includes Judge’s own reply and an 'Appreciation' of it, offering a counterpoint. The index is detailed, listing chapters and page numbers for easy navigation through the controversy.

Garrett’s book is best read as a documentary exposé rather than a narrative. The preface and Besant’s letter provide the interpretive key: the case rests on internal contradictions and admissions. Readers should pay close attention to the facsimiles and the sequence of challenges and responses. The book does not claim to settle the matter but to present evidence that demands an answer from the Theosophical leadership.