Editing Helena Blavatsky (section)

=== Final years in Europe: 1885–1891 ===
[[File:HPB by Schmiechen.jpg|thumb|upright|left|''Mme. Blavatsky'' (painted by [[Hermann Schmiechen]])]]
Worsening health led Blavatsky to contemplate a return to the milder climate of Europe, and resigning her position as corresponding secretary of the society, she left India in March 1885.{{sfnm|1a1=Washington|1y=1993|1p=85|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2p=231}} By 1885, the Theosophical Society had experienced rapid growth, with 121 lodges having been chartered across the world, 106 of which were located in India, Burma, and Ceylon.{{sfn|Washington|1993|p=68}} Initially, each lodge was chartered directly from the Adyar headquarters, with members making democratic decisions by vote.{{sfn|Washington|1993|p=68}} However, over the coming years the lodges were organized into national units with their own ruling councils, resulting in tensions between the different levels of administration.{{sfn|Washington|1993|p=68}}

Settling in [[Naples]], Italy, in April 1885, she began living off of a small Society pension and continued working on her next book, ''[[The Secret Doctrine]]''.{{sfnm|1a1=Goodrick-Clarke|1y=2004|1p=14|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2p=232}} She then moved to [[Würzburg]] in the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]], where she was visited by a Swedish Theosophist, the Countess [[Constance Wachtmeister]], who became her constant companion throughout the rest of her life.{{sfnm|1a1=Goodrick-Clarke|1y=2004|1p=14|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2pp=232–233}} In December 1885, the SPR published [[Hodgson Report|their report]] on Blavatsky and her alleged phenomena, authored by [[Richard Hodgson (parapsychologist)|Richard Hodgson]]. In his report, Hodgson accused Blavatsky of being a spy for the Russian government, further accusing her of faking paranormal phenomena, largely on the basis of the Coulomb's claims.{{sfnm|1a1=Campbell|1y=1980|1pp=92–93|2a1=Washington|2y=1993|2pp=82–83|3a1=Goodrick-Clarke|3y=2004|3p=13|4a1=Lachman|4y=2012|4pp=228–230, 236–237}} The report caused much tension within the Society, with a number of Blavatsky's followers{{spnd}}among them Babaji and [[Tallapragada Subba Row|Subba Row]]{{spnd}}denouncing her and resigning from the organization on the basis of it.{{sfnm|1a1=Washington|1y=1993|1p=87|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2p=235}}

{{quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote=For our own part, we regard [Blavatsky] neither as the mouthpiece of hidden seers, nor as a mere vulgar adventuress; we think that she has achieved a title to permanent remembrance as one of the most accomplished, ingenious, and interesting imposters in history.|source=—The statement of the Society for Psychical Research on the basis of the Hodgson Report.{{sfn|Campbell|1980|p=93}} }}

Blavatsky wanted to sue her accusers, although Olcott advised against it, believing that the surrounding publicity would damage the Society.{{sfn|Washington|1993|p=85}} In private letters, Blavatsky expressed relief that the criticism was focused on her and that the identity of the Masters had not been publicly exposed.{{sfnm|1a1=Lachman|1y=2012|1pp=235–236}} For decades after, Theosophists criticized Hodgson's methodology, arguing that he set out to disprove and attack Blavatsky rather than conduct an unbiased analysis of her claims and abilities. In 1986 the SPR admitted this to be the case and retracted the findings of the report.{{sfn|Society for Psychical Research|1986}}{{sfnm|1a1=Cranston|1y=1993|1pp=xvii–xviii|2a1=Washington|2y=1993|2p=84|3a1=Goodrick-Clarke|3y=2004|3p=14|4a1=Lachman|4y=2012|4p=238}} However, Johnson has commented "Theosophists have overinterpreted this as complete vindication, when in fact many questions raised by Hodgson remain unanswered."{{sfn|Johnson|1994|p=3}}

In 1886, by which time she was using a [[wheelchair]], Blavatsky moved to [[Ostend]] in Belgium, where she was visited by Theosophists from across Europe.{{sfnm|1a1=Washington|1y=1993|1p=87|2a1=Goodrick-Clarke|2y=2004|2p=14|3a1=Lachman|3y=2012|3pp=240–241}} Among them was the doctor [[William Ashton Ellis]], who treated her during a near-fatal illness in March 1887; Blavatsky credited him with saving her life.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cormack |first=David |title=Faithful, All Too Faithful: William Ashton Ellis and the Englishing of Richard Wagner (Part 2) |url=http://www.thewagnerjournal.co.uk/cormackonellis,p.html |access-date=11 July 2022 |website=The Wagner Journal}}</ref> Supplementing her pension, she established a small ink-producing business.{{sfn|Lachman|2012|p=241}} She received messages from members of the Society's London Lodge who were dissatisfied with Sinnett's running of it; they believed that he was focusing on attaining upper-class support rather than encouraging the promotion of Theosophy throughout society, a criticism Blavatsky agreed with.{{sfn|Lachman|2012|pp=241–242}} She arrived in London in May 1887, initially staying in the [[Upper Norwood]] home of Theosophist [[Mabel Collins]].{{sfnm|1a1=Washington|1y=1993|1p=91|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2p=244}} In September, she moved into the [[Holland Park]] home of fellow Theosophists, [[Bertram Keightley]] and his nephew [[Archibald Keightley]].{{sfn|Lachman|2012|p=245}}

[[File:Blavatsky and Olcott.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Blavatsky and Olcott in 1888]]

In London, she established the [[Blavatsky Lodge]] as a rival to that run by Sinnett, draining much of its membership.{{sfnm|1a1=Washington|1y=1993|1p=90|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2p=245}} Lodge meetings were held at the Keightleys' house on Thursday nights, with Blavatsky also greeting many visitors there, among them the occultist and poet [[W. B. Yeats]].{{sfnm|1a1=Washington|1y=1993|1p=91|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2pp=246–247}} In November 1889 she was visited by the Indian lawyer [[Mohandas Gandhi]], who was studying the ''[[Bhagavad Gita]]'' with the Knightleys. He became an associate member of Blavatsky's Lodge in March 1891, and would emphasize the close connection between Theosophy and Hinduism throughout his life.{{sfn|Lachman|2012|pp=258–259}} In 1888, Blavatsky established the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society, a group under her complete control for which admittance was restricted to those who had passed certain tests. She identified it as a place for "true Theosophists" who would focus on the system's philosophy rather than experiment with producing paranormal phenomena.{{sfnm|1a1=Washington|1y=1993|1p=100|2a1=Lachman|2y=2012|2pp=248–249}}