Bruce Michael
Well-Known Member
Dear All
The founding members of the TS did have a fascination with "phenomena" of one kind or another. They wished to make the spiritual physically manifest, as in ectoplasm and Felt's magic shows. It was a symptom of the times materialism. They wanted to prove certain spiritual facts through 'materialisations'.The contents of the S.D.are a result of practical occultism, (as Tomberg pointed out) both by H.P.B. and the Adepts.Object No. 5: To investigate the powers innate in man. Does this mean we just read about them? Prior to the founding of the T.S., Mr.George Felt, H.B. of L., felt very inclined towards a public demonstration of the existence of nature spirits,using the magical sciences of old Egypt. The lecture was well received and afterwards as reported in Old Diary Leaves by the Colonel:
I think the "Universal Brotherhood" bit was popped in later. After all who were these people? They weren't philanthropists as far as I'm aware, but occultists of one sort or another.
Robert Owen however was one the greatest philanthropists in history(mentioned in People from the other World). He would have been a wonderfulfounding member. He unfortunately died in 1858.
-Br.Bruce
The founding members of the TS did have a fascination with "phenomena" of one kind or another. They wished to make the spiritual physically manifest, as in ectoplasm and Felt's magic shows. It was a symptom of the times materialism. They wanted to prove certain spiritual facts through 'materialisations'.The contents of the S.D.are a result of practical occultism, (as Tomberg pointed out) both by H.P.B. and the Adepts.Object No. 5: To investigate the powers innate in man. Does this mean we just read about them? Prior to the founding of the T.S., Mr.George Felt, H.B. of L., felt very inclined towards a public demonstration of the existence of nature spirits,using the magical sciences of old Egypt. The lecture was well received and afterwards as reported in Old Diary Leaves by the Colonel:
vol 1 pp 118-19 "from the Minute book" September 8th"the idea occurred to me that it would be a good thing to form a Society to pursue and promote such occult research..."
ibid 121-122 As an aside, H.P.B. uses the word "Theosophic" in an article in the Spiritual Scientist July 1875 "the modern Theosophists, at whose head was Paracelsus." Collected Writings vol 1 pp 106, 110. K.H. writing to Hume was concerned "But a hot-bed of magic we never dreamt of. Such an organisation... is unthinkable among Europeans; and it has become next to impossible in India..." M.L. p207"In consequence of a proposal of Col. Henry S. Olcott that a Society be formed for the study and elucidation of Occultism, the Cabbala, etc....."
I think the "Universal Brotherhood" bit was popped in later. After all who were these people? They weren't philanthropists as far as I'm aware, but occultists of one sort or another.
Robert Owen however was one the greatest philanthropists in history(mentioned in People from the other World). He would have been a wonderfulfounding member. He unfortunately died in 1858.
-Br.Bruce