Theos-Talk Archives (October 1994 Message tl00023)

Ron Banister,

Regarding your request for more information on Narada falls, the
following appeared in ~The Theosophical Forum~ (Covina CA.),
June, 1947, p.  352:

The Beautiful Narada Falls, at the lower end of Paradise Valley
on the slopes of famed Mt.  Rainier (Mt.  Tacoma) in Rainier
National Park, received its name from the old "Narada T.S." of
Tacoma Washington.  Mr.  George Sheffield, a pioneer member of
the Narada Lodge back in the nineties, who sent us the photograph
of our illustration, writes the following reminiscence:

In July 1893, a party consisting of members of Narada Lodge with
a mountain guide, went down from the trail of that time to where
we could hear the noise of the falls, saw them and carved Narada
in the bark of a nearby tree.  All the old timers around the
mountain said we were the first among either white people or
Indians, probably, ever to see the Falls.  The name was accepted
by the Government.

Narada Falls is still one of the big attractions of The Mountain.
It is right on the highway to Paradise Valley, quite a large area
nearly halfway up the mountain, where the snow goes off in the
summer.  The Government has a hotel there and a ski resort for
winter tourists.  The Falls are at the lower end of the valley,
plainly visible from the highway, and thousands pass that way
each day during the summer.

Mt.  Rainer is 75 miles from Tacoma.  It is 15,000 feet high, and
snow-covered all year round.

I do not know why the Lodge took the name of Narada (one of the
Seven Rishis--See ~The Secret Doctrine~, Vol.  1, pages 48-49,
275, 323, 502, 566, 584.) The Lodge was organized in 1888 or 9.
Its charter members included W.E.  Copeland, a Unitarian
minister, Judge Frank Reid, J.H.  Scotford, E.O.  Schwageral,
Mrs.  E.L.  Sawyer, and others.  The last new members were George
and Fanny L.  Sheffield who joined in 1889, received certificate
of membership from H.P.B.  and W.Q.J., September, 1890.

The Lodge was very successful, had around 75 members, rented its
own exclusive hall, had its regular public meetings with good
attendance, library open every afternoon, Lotus Circle and the
usual round of social and dramatic attractions.  Mr.  Judge
started the Lotus Circle which was very successful.  Many of the
children who attended it are now influential citizens of a
character of whom the world has too few.  --George Sheffield.

Astrea,

A> I was interested to learn that Aleister Crowley (aka "Uncle
> Al")worked for the Nazis during WWII, mainly disseminating
> disinformation amongst the British, I think.  I can probably
> find some more info on this if anyone is interested.

Yes; please tell us more.

Jerry Hejka-Ekins