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The Order of the Star in the East was an organization...........

History

George S. Arundale, Principal of the Central Hindu College, established the Order of the Rising Sun on January 11, 1911. Krishnamurti wrote:

He intended it to draw together those of his scholars who believed in the near coming of a great Teacher, and were anxious to work in some way to prepare for Him. I do not think that he expected it to spread much beyond the limits of the College.

A few months later Mrs. Besant, finding that many people in many countries were ready for just such a Society, took it in hand and made it into a world-wide organisation, at the same time changing its name to The Order of the Star in the East, and asking me to be its Head.

In introducing the Order, Charles Webster Leadbeater wrote of its purpose in support of the World Teacher:

The Great One who is the Teacher of the world and the Founder of its religions — He who is called in the East the Bodhisattva and in the West the Christ — is about to descend upon earth once more in order to give us a new presentation of the eternal verities — to draw together all those adherents of existing religion who are prepared to accept and to study the wisdom which lies within all of them alike, and binds them into a unity.

Membership

In order to become a member of the Order, an application was required to accept this Declaration of Principles:

1. We believe that a great Teacher will soon appear in the world, and we wish so to live now that we may be worthy to know Him when He comes.
2. We shall try, therefore, to keep Him in our minds always, and to do in His name, and therefore to the best of our ability, all the work which comes to us in our daily occupations.
3. As far as our ordinary duties allow, we shall endeavour to devote a portion of our time each day to some definite work which may help to prepare for His coming.
4. We shall seek to make Devotion, Steadfastness and Gentleness prominent characteristics of our daily life.
5. We shall try to begin and end each day with a short period devoted to the asking of His blessing upon all that we try to do for Him and in His name.
6. We regard it as our special duty to try to recognise and reverence greatness in whomsoever shown, and to strive to cooperate, as far as we can, with those whom we feel to be spiritually our superiors.

Correspondence about membership was handled by a designated representative in each country, or by Professor E. A. Wodehouse at Central Hindu College, Benares.

Publications

The official journal of the Order was The Herald of the Star, first published on January 11, 1912. It was issued monthly from 1912-1927. Jiddu Krishnamurti was editor initially, assisted by Lady Emily Lutyens and D. Rajagopal. The first issues were printed by the Theosophist Office in Adyar, Madras, India, but by March 1917, publication took place in London. Distribution was not only to members, but to the general public at 6 pence per issue.

Frequent contributors included Krishnamurti, Annie Besant, Charles Webster Leadbeater, C. Jinarajadasa, Lady Emily Lutyens, E. A. Wodehouse,

The Herald was succeeded by the International Star Bulletin and then the Star Bulletin.