John Yarker – In Memoriam

she left India for England about the end of March 1911 and returned to India onlyin the beginning of October 191 I, during which time, so far as the plaintiff was aware, the boys were kept away from associating with the said Mr. Leadbeater. 6. In or about November 1911 the defendant told the plaintiff that the boys were making rapid Spiritual progress and were approaching initiation by the Masters (a set of superhuman gurus living on the eastern slopes of the Himalayas) believed in by the Theosophists. She therefore propOsed to keep the boys With Mr. Leadbeater at ‘Ootaca- mund preparatory to their initiation. On the plaintiff’s objection the boys were not sent to Ootacamund. The plaintiff met the defendant in Benares in December 1911 and insisted on an absolute separation of the boys from Mr. Leadbeater. But for the first time, to the plaintiff’s great surprise, the defendant refused to adOpt any such course, and alleged that the bOys and Leadbeater had lived together 'for several lives past, and that Leadbeater was an Arhat or Saint, “who is on the "verge of divinity.” The plaintiff stated that he could not accept any such position, and- that unless the separation took place he would take action in the matter. 7. The plaintiff returned from Benares to Adyar, and there, on or about January 19, 1912, the defendant, in presence of certain members of the Theosophical Society, sent for the plaintiff and asked him what he wanted to be done in respect of the boys. The plaintiff only demanded that there should be absolute separation from the said Leadbeater. She agreed to this, and asked the plaintiff whether he had any objection to the boys being taken to England. The plaintiff assented, as the defendant had alleged that she. would be returning to I8