Chapter 6 1946 C. Jinarajadasa becomes President February 17, Adyar Day Claude Bragdon books on architectural theory, “The Beautiful Necessity” (1910), “Architecture and Democracy” (1918), and “The Frozen Fountain” (1932), advocated a theosophical approach to building design, urging an “organic” Gothic style (which he thought of as reflective of the natural order) over the “arranged” Beaux-Arts architecture of the classical revival. In 1922 Bragdon helped translate and publish P.D. Ouspensky’s “Tertium Organum”, for which he also wrote an introduction to the English translation. Claude Fayette Bragdon Born August 1, 1866 in Oberlin, Ohio. Died September 17, 1946 (aged 80). Based in Rochester, New York City, New York, up to World War I, then lived in New York City as Nationality American, with an occupation as an Architect, writer, and stage designer through the years 1890-1946. Some of Claude Bragdon’s notable works can be observed at Rochester’s New York Central Railroad terminal, (1909-13), Chamber of Commerce, (1915-17) Rochester First Universalist Church, Bevier Memorial Building, Shingleside, and the Rochester Italian Presbyterian Church, as well as many other public buildings and private residences. Bragdon enjoyed a national reputation as an architect working in the progressive tradition associated with Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. Along with members of the Prairie School and other regional movements, these architects developed new approaches to the planning, design, and ornamentation of buildings that embraced industrial techniques and building types while reaffirming democratic traditions threatened by the rise of urban mass society. In numerous essays and books, Bragdon argued that only an “organic architecture” based on nature could foster 159 democratic community in industrial capitalist society Los Angeles Lodge the Theosophical Society 1047 ½ S. Kenmore Ave., Los Angeles 6, CA Dear Mr. Casselberry: Several members have asked me to invite you to take a Sunday meeting for us with some theosophical talk, as they enjoyed the one you gave some years ago. Will you give us a talk some time in April, and let me know the date and subject, as we print up a leaflet like this, and I am making up the program right up to the end of May to complete this season. Could you phone me at PA-2184 during business hours, or write me to my house, since I get that quicker than at the lodge rooms. I have heard so much of you I do hope you will accept our invitation for a Sunday in April, or earlier if you prefer for any reason. Cordially yours, Alice Warren Hamaker Chairman February 5 1946 Shelton Hotel Lexington Ave., 48th to 49th Streets New York Dear Mr. Sutton: I read your letter with very mixed emotions indeed. I am mindful of the compliment implicit in the effort to put on “The Immortal Beloved” but I am also mindful of the difficulties involved as an artist in the theatre. I am exceedingly apprehensive of the results in the hands of even no matter how enthusiastic amateurs, lacking the full resources of the modern theatre and the skilled direction and assistance of experts in the various fields involved. Forgive me if I say I should much prefer not to see your production than to see it and to request that my name be not connected with it in any way but I perceive from your announcement that is already out of the question; however, I have such sympathy for your enthusiasm and undaunted effort that I avert my eyes and mind and simply 160 murmur, “God bless you all”. I have nothing to send you and would not if I could, my feeling being, as a skilled worker in the professional theatre with all its resources to draw upon (this is already in the past) “Whole Hog or none”. Here speaks the perfectionist. My hope is that there may be moments of beauty in your production. You must expect to better that if you accomplish anything at all, but more I, in the nature of things, can hardly expect. Yours sincerely, Claude Bragdon The following letter from Dickson-Kenwin according to records, was born in 1882 in London. His birth name in Britain was George William Dickson-Kenwin. He was professionally known for “Encounter” (1952), “Hawkeye as the Last of the Mohicans” (1957), and “Hudson’s Bay” (1959), and many more. He passed away on November 15, 1966 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. February 18 1946 Dickson-Kenwin 83 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto Canada Dear Mr. Sutton; May I congratulate you on your splendid presentation of the “The Immortal Beloved” yesterday afternoon. Your narrative was most interesting. Particularly, I was most intrigued with the stage lighting and simple setting. In my opinion “The Immortal Beloved” was like a slice out of a New York Production and I wish that Bragdon had seen it. Merle Nichols was superb and proved herself to be a fine interpretive dancer. I am so glad you offer her these opportunities to display her exceptional talents and she enjoys the work so much. I am sure you have been greatly encouraged in this innovation at the T.S. and I have already heard some very dine comments. With my best wishes, Yours sincerely, Dickson-Kenwin 161 February 17, Adyar Day, N. Sri Ram, the Vice-President paid tribute to the great leaders of the past declared C. Jinarajadasa elected as President of the Theosophical Society by placing on his finger the signet-ring worn by Mme. Blavatsky, Dr. Besant and Dr. Arundale. There was much controversies over the ring when it was altered and changed. The President nominated Sidney A. Cook as the new Vice-President and elected by the General Council. Sidney Cook had retired the previous year, after fourteen years of work, from his post as National President of the Theosophical Society in America. C. Jinarajadasa in his address reminded the members that one of the greatest of Adepts had said that the Society “was chosen as the corner-stone, the foundation of the future religions of humanity”. And during the 71 years the Society had weathered many a storm and was now stronger than ever. Srimati Rukmini Devi was occupied at this as usual with the many activities which claimed her attention. By October 1st she formed at Huizen a Central Committee for Europe to prepare celebrations for Dr. Besant’s Centenary—1847-1947. She wanted to have representative committees, in every country, of the Besant International Cultural Centre in Adyar. She desired to found a lasting memorial worthy of Dr. Besant’s great merits and fame. February 26 1946 Shelton Hotel Lexington Avenue New York Dear Mr. Sutton; Thank you for your letter and enclosure which I return herewith. I am glad to learn of the success of the production of “The Immortal Beloved” and I fear that in my first letter I seemed unduly apprehensive. But these were the natural first reactions for any dramatist; they tell me that Benevente, the Spanish dramatist (whose “Bonds of Interest” I once produced with Mr. Hampden) never goes near any production of one of his own plays and Howard Lindsey, co-author of “The State of the Union” always absents himself from his own “first nights”. I’m sure you, yourself, can understand it. If you tell me the masks were good I’m sure that they 162 were and I am quite aware that a production done in the spirit in which this one was undertaken, had a certain rare quality which even the best routine professional performance would somehow lack. If I seemed ungracious in my first letter, let me make what amends I can, by thanking you all sincerely, and yourself particularly, for undertaking this difficult task and coming through with it with honour. I like the spirit manifested and it were well if there were more of it in the Society. You are quite right in seeing in the theatre a more powerful agent than any other medium for putting over great ideas. This is one of the reasons why I conceived and wrote “The Immortal Beloved” for I am not by natural endowment a dramatist, though I have a great love for that form, and experience with its merely physical aspect. Your most gratefully and sincerely, Claude Bragdon Jacinto Benavente y Martínez mentioned in the above letter was born Aug. 12, 1866, Madrid, Spain—died July 14, 1954, in Madrid, he was also one of the foremost popular Spanish dramatists of the first half of the 20th century, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1922. He returned drama to reality by way of social criticism: declamatory verse giving way to prose, melodrama to comedy, formula to experience, impulsive action to dialogue and the play of minds. Benavente showed a preoccupation with aesthetics and later with ethics. He was raised in an aristocratic family and studied to become a lawyer, but when his father died, leaving Benavente a sizable inheritance, he dropped out of college, toured Europe, worked briefly as an actor, and began writing. After several of his plays had been produced to little acclaim, he had his first success with Gente Conocida (High Society), a biting satire of his own Madrid blue blood roots. His Los Intereses Creados (The Bonds of Interest), in which a wily servant manipulates his master as a puppet, became a staple of Spanish-language theater. 163 The following letter is from the Stevens Hotel in Chicago where Herbert Staggs is staying while attending the Convention. July 6 1946 Dear Hazel: Convention opens this evening. Eight Krotonians present including Ann Climo, but haven’t seen Catherine yet.