A Quarterly Journal of Research Volume XI, No. 3 July 2004 ISSN 0951-497X Theosophical History: :Occasional Papers A Quarterly Journal of Research (ISBN 1-883279-00-3) Founded by Leslie Price, 1985 Volume XI, No. 3 Editor: James A. Santucci July 2004 EDITOR subscription rate for residents in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada is $22.00 (one James A. Santucci year) or $39.00 (two years). California residents, please add $1.71 (7.75%) California State University, Fullerton sales tax onto the $22 rate or $2.95 onto the $39 rate. For residents outside North America, the subscription rate is $26.00 (£18 British Sterling) (one VOLUME I Witness for the Prosecution: Annie Besant’s Testimony on Behalf of H.P. ASSOCIATE EDITORS year) or $47.00 (£31) (two years). Air mail is $40.00 (£26) for Europe and Asia Blavatsky in the N.Y. Sun/Coues Law Case Robert Boyd and $36 for Pan American nations (one year) or $74.00 (£48) for Europe and Asia and $67 for Pan American nations (two years). Single issues are $8.00 Introduction by Michael Gomes † (£5.50). Electronic (PDF) issues are $2.50 (£1.75) each or $10 (£7) for any four John Cooper available issues and $17.00 (£12) for any eight available issues. Subscriptions University of Sydney may also be paid in British sterling. All inquiries should be sent to James VOLUME II Joan Grant: Winged Pharaoh Santucci, Department of Comparative Religion, California State University, John Patrick Deveney P.O. Box 6868, Fullerton, CA 92834-6868 (U.S.A.). Periodicals postage paid at By Jean Overton Fuller New York, NY Fullerton, California 92631-9998. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Theosophical History (c/o James Santucci), Department of Comparative April Hejka-Ekins Religion, California State University, P.O. Box 6868, Fullerton, CA 92834- California State University, Stanislaus VOLUME III Ammonius Saccas and His Eclectic Philosophy as Presented by Alexander 6868. The Editors assume no responsibility for the views expressed by authors Wilder Jerry Hejka-Ekins in Theosophical History. Nautilus Books This periodical is indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, published by By Dr. Jean-Louis Siémons the American Theological Library Association, 250 S. Wacker Dr., 16th Floor, Robert Ellwood Chicago, IL 60606, email: [email protected], world wide web: http://www.atla.com. University of Southern California Theosophical History assumes no responsibility for the views expressed by the VOLUME IV W.T. Brown’s “Scenes in My Life” contributors to the journal. Antoine Faivre Introduction by Michael Gomes École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Joscelyn Godwin VOLUME V Krishnamurti and the World Teacher Project: Some Theosophical Perceptions Colgate University GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF MANUSCRIPTS By Govert Schüller Jean-Pierre Laurant The final copy of all manuscripts must be submitted on 8 x 11 inch stock, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris double-spaced, and with margins of at least 1 inches on all sides. Words and phrases intended for italics output should appear in italics in the manuscript. VOLUME VI Astral Projection or Liberation of the Double and the Work of the Early J. Gordon Melton The submitter is encouraged to send the article, communication, or review by Institute for the Study of American Religion attachment to email. The email address is [email protected]. 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VOLUME VIII Franz Hartmann’s Some Fragments of the Secret History of the Theosophical They should be submitted double-spaced. Theosophical History (ISSN 0951-497X) is published quarterly in All correspondence, manuscripts, and subscriptions should be sent to: Society January, April, July, and October by James A. Santucci (Department of Introduction by Robert Hütwohl Comparative Religion, California State University, P.O. Box 6868, Fullerton, CA Department of Comparative Religion 92834-6868 U.S.A.) The journal consists of four issues per volume: one vol- California State University, P.O. Box 6868 ume covering a period of one year. The journal’s purpose is to publish contri- Fullerton, CA 92834-6868 (U.S.A.) butions specifically related to the modern Theosophical Movement, from the FAX: 714-693-0142 Email: [email protected] VOLUME IX The Unseen Worlds of Emma Hardinge Britten: Some Chapters in the History time of Madame Helena Blavatsky and others who were responsible in estab- TELEPHONE: 714-278-3727 of Western Occultism lishing the original Theosophical Society (1875), to all groups that derive their Website: www.theohistory.org teachings—directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly—from her or her By Robert Mathiesen immediate followers. In addition, the journal is also receptive to related move- Copyright ©2004 by James A. Santucci ments (including pre-Blavatskyite Theosophy, Spiritualism, Rosicrucianism, Composition and Theosophical History logo by Eric Santucci and the philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg to give but a few examples) that www.ericsantucci.com have had an influence on or displayed an affinity to modern Theosophy. The Contents July 2004 Volume X, Number 3 Editor’s Comments James Santucci.............................................................................1 Communication Colonel Olcott and Delta Psi.................................................................5 Article The Ritual Dimension of Theosophy; Some Forgotten Endeavours KevinTingay...................................................................................7 Review Article Ésotérisme, gnoses et imaginaire symbolique: Mélanges offerts à Antoine Faivre. Hereward Tilton............................................................................17 Book Review The Letters of H.P. Blavatsky, Volume 1 John Patrick Deveney..................................................................31 Editor’s Comments the Academy than any other scholar, of Count Michael Maier (1569-1622). Antoine Faivre. In this Issue The sole book review, our last offering, * * * is of the long awaited volume, The Letters Three contributions appear in this issue: to Theosophists but also to academic of H.P. Blavatsky, Volume 1 edited by Dr. Carmen Helena Small “The Ritual Dimension of Theosophy: scholars in the study of religions. There John Algeo, the Vice-President of the T.S. Some Forgotten Endeavours” by Revd. have been numberless attempts to define a I use the compound “long awaited” since It is my sad duty to report the deaths of two Kevin Tingay, a review essay on the book “religion,” none of which are universally there was the expectation that the respect- life-long Theosophists, Carmen Helena Ésotérisme, gnoses et imaginaire symbol- accepted. Despite the fact that no defini- ed Australian historian of the Theosophical Small and Geoffrey Farthing. Mrs. Small ique: Mélanges offerts à Antoine Faivre, tion is perfect, or perhaps because of it, Society, the late John Cooper, would pro- was born in 1918 to Axel and Gerda Fick, and one book review: The Letters of H.P. there is a tendency to include many self- duce the first of a series of such volumes, both immigrants from Sweden who settled Blavatsky, Volume 1. identified non-religious organizations under but his untimely death in 1998 delayed the at the Theosophical Headquarters and Revd. Tingay’s article, first presented at the rubric of religion. Why this is so is project by a number of years. This publi- community at Point Loma, Lomaland. Her the Theosophical History Conference in somewhat baffling to me unless we con- cation continues the efforts of the pioneer- birth at Point Loma, as also her sister’s, London in June 2003, explores an area of clude that scholars and non-scholars alike ing Theosophical scholar, Boris de Zirkoff, Ingrid Van Mater, was one of the few that Theosophical activity not necessarily iden- have a decided tendency to accept reflex- as well as those of Mr. Cooper, whose con- graced the community. She was a product tified with Theosophy: ritual. This is not to ive definitions – or to put it more bluntly, to tribution amounted to many years of of its educational system, known as Raja say that ritual was and is an essential part engage in the Humpty-Dumpty Principle of painstaking research judging from corre- Yoga, became an accomplished pianist, of the Theosophical Society; rather, it is an defining the term. If the study of religion spondence received from him, and the an elementary school teacher, and a vol- activity that attracted a fair portion of the comes down to this, then we must assume awarding to him of a posthumous Ph.D dis- unteer and participant in a number of local Theosophical community. a far less pretentious attitude toward the sertation on this subject by the University organizations upon her retirement from Despite this fact, ritual has nonetheless subject, recognizing that we are all suscep- of Sydney. teaching, among which were the San made an impact on the members of the tible to instinct and blind reaction and so Among the contributors, Revd. Kevin Diego Natural History Museum, the House largest of the societies, the Adyar T.S. must initiate almost heroic efforts to Tingay is an Anglican Priest in Somerset, of Sweden, and the San Diego Association Theosophists belonging to this society par- overcome such shortcomings.