Neutral Bay,Sydney, September 25th, 1918
The talk was given in the home of Mr. T.H. Martyn in Neutral Bay, Sydney, Australia. Mr. Martyn was the General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in Australia, and the Corresponding Secretary of the Esoteric School (E.S.) for the same area. The E.S. was the continuation of the Esoteric Section created by Mrs Blavatsky in the early days of the Theosophical Society. Martyn, a few years later turned against Leadbeater and was instrumental to the dissimination of the false information "leaked" to the Sydney press with the intent to destroy the work of the Liberal Catholic Church. An agressive gossip campaign followed provoking in a police investigation resulting with a non-guilty verdict from the Sydney Court.
The Lord, I suppose two years ago, sent for the Master Morya, and, so to speak, asked Him permission - well, not exactly His permission - but said that it [The First Ray Benediction] would be useful, and would He consent to it being used. Of course the Master Morya was very glad to do so. I suppose that was done because the E.S. technically belongs to the Master Morya, and so it would be courteous to consult him with regards to the use of that particular invocation. Now, let us see what lay between them. Yes, as far as I can see, the idea is that that may be used, but that in the hands of the many, it would be in the nature of a tremendous Benediction; but no one but ourselves would be conscious which it is. The permission given certainly involves the printing of the thing, and its use by everybody; but it will mean much more when used with the knowledge and the tought behind it. The fact is, it is put in exactly the same way, and in the same way as is the other Benediction. The outer Benediction is not an actual statement: "The Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds.... ", that is to say, "May it keep your hearts and minds"; it is a wish. It is very much more as we do it; but the words indicate a wish, not the the Peace of God is upon you but, may it be upon you. The form of the words is the same in each case; but, most assuredly, we know that we are commissioned to give a great deal more than a wish, when we pronounce the [First Ray] Benediction. The President [Annie Besant, President of the Theosophical Society and Outer Head of the Esoteric School wrote and said: of course, "Anything that He wishes you may usel we feel greatly honnoured at the selection".