Isabel Holbrook

Isabel B. Holbrook (1863-1935) was a prominent American worker in the American Theosophical Society and in Co-Freemasonry.

Early life and career

Miss Holbrook was born in Rockland, Massachusetts, on October 13, 1863 as the daughter of Turner Reed Holbrook and Lydia Jane Holbrook. "She attended the local schools and later the Bridgewater Normal. Following her graduation she taught for a number of years, specializing in biology and the natural sciences."

Theosophical Society activities

Membership records for Isabel Holbrook are incomplete, but she reported that her certificate was dated November 26, 1907.

She became a resident of Krotona in Hollywood from 1912-1917, and taught classes at the Krotona Institute. She and Fritz Kunz presented "Science and Theosophy Correlated." She was active in the Krotona Hollywood Lodge after it was founded on February 21, 1913.

Miss Holbrook became editor of The American Theosophist in 1913 and was appointed Principal of the Educational Department of the Krotona Institute.

In 1915, she became the National Secretary of the American Theosophical Society, but she resigned from that position at the start of 1917.

Lecture tours

Miss Holbrook was a popular national lecturer, particularly known for her talks on symbolism, Ancient Egypt, and natural sciences.

For example, in 1916 she spent several weeks in Washington, DC and Baltimore, speaking almost every day. Topics included interpretations of the Bible; Annie Besant's A Study in Consciousness; The Order of the Star in the East; and basic principles of Theosophy. She also offered a class in child psychology, on behalf of the Theosophical Fraternity in Education.

From Washington come most gratifying reports of her work there. Her Sunday evening lectures drew an attendance that was too large for the lodge room, which seats 150, and the old Masonic Temple was taken. Here the audiences grew until the final lecture brought out about 400 people...

In brief, during the twenty-five days of Miss Holbrook's engagement with us she lectured thirty-six times and attended four teas given to those who wished to meet her. She seemed never at a loss for a word or an idea, and presented the subjects effectually and brilliantly.

Involvement in Co-Freemasonry

Universal Masonry

Cornerstone ceremony at Krotona. 1912. Miss Holbrook at left.

No information is available about when Miss Holbrook became involved with Co-Freemasonry, but it clearly became very important to her. For many years she served the Co-Masonic Order in the United States in the office of Deputy Grand Commander.

in 1910, Holbrook moved to Chicago to work on a new Masonic magazine:

Mrs. Minnie C. Holbrook [no relation to Isabel] and Miss Helen Jasper Swain, of New York City, and Miss Isabel B. Holbrook of Providence, Rhode Island, have taken up residence in Chicago for rhe purpose of editing and conduxting a new Masonic journal to be entitled "Universal Masonry" and to be published by the Rajput Press.

"Universal Masonry" is to deal with the subject of Masonry from the point of view of its esoteric origin and meaning.

Krotona Hall ceremony

Early in 1912, Holbrook moved to Krotona in Hollywood, the new headquarters for the Esoteric Section of the Theosophists in the United States. It also became the headquarters of the American Theosophical Society, the Co-Masonic Order, the Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross, the Liberal Catholic Church, and the Order of the Star in the East. Like most of the Krotona residents, Miss Holbrook was involved in several of these organizations, and on July 2, 1912 led Co-Masonic rituals for the laying of the cornerstone for Krotona Hall.

The ceremony was performed by Helios Lodge of the Co-Masonic Fraternity, under the direction of Miss Isabel B. Holbrook, acting as the deputy of Louis Goaziou, the M. P. Grand Commander of the American Federation of Human Rights...

When daylight broke a handful of devoted women might have been seen filing down to the building site and there reverently incensing the marked-out lines... by ten o-clock the Co-Masons began to arrive. After them came the Theosophists and others, and at eleven the Co-Masons had repaired to the improvised lodge room in the house of Dr. Kuznik, our good Chicago neighbor. In due course, and heralded a blast from the trumpet of our young trumpeter, these emerged in full regalia, andmarched slowly down the winding lanes, gathering up the Theosophists, the Lotus [children's] groups, the members of the O. S. E. [Order of the Star in the East] and others, as they proceeded, for these had been waiting on the lawn a little below. The following was the order of the procession, under direction of the Grand Marshal and Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies:

The Grand Tyler with drawn sword, the Grand Deacons with white rods, Masters Masons by twos, the Grand Inner Guard, the Grand Almoner, the Grand Treasurer with the casket, the Grand Secretary with list of deposit, the Grand Architect with the plans, accompanied by three assistants bearing respectively a square, a level and a plumb; the Wardens with columns – the Grand Senior bearing a siiver cup of wine, and the Grand Junior a silver cup of oil; Deputy Grand Commander with escort, bearing Book of Constitution and golden cup of corn; the T. S. Trustees, the Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary with escort; the Grand Bearer with Bible, square and compasses, Past Deputy Grand Master with escort, bearing the crystal vessel of salt; the Grand Orator; the Grand Chaplain and the Grand Commander with escort. Then came the Lotus Circle, the T. S. Lodges, members in twos, the Order of the Star in the East, and finally, the public.

This report from The Theosophic Messenger continues to describe the events of the day, and says "this account would be greatly lacking if no mention were made of the masterly ability with which the Grand Commander, Miss Holbrook, planned out and directed the details of the ceremony."

Later years

By 1920 she had moved back to Chicago, where she lived with her older brother Elliot. That year she conducted a program of providing food aid to Europe, under the direction of former ATS president Dr. Weller Van Hook. As her health declined in 1921, "she returned to Rockland where she remained, continuing her lecturing as she was able, and contributing also by writing." On June 30, 1923, she joined the Annie Besant Lodge in Boston, which was the ATS lodge nearest to her home.

She passed away on June 11, 1935.

Writings

In addition to her editorial work, Miss Holbrook contributed articles and pamphlets. The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists 2 articles by IB Holbrook and 37 articles by Isabel B Holbrook. These included a series called "As Above, So Below," one on "Pythagoras," and another on "The Book of Enoch."

She also wrote pamphlets:

• Egyptian Studies, Number One. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Press, 1927. Its sub-title was The Path of Light in the House of the Hidden Places. "It is a study of the correspondences between the secret passages and chambers of the Great Pyramid and the Ritual known as The Book of the Dead in which the secret doctrine of Egypt is embodied. The author notes that this ancient Ritual had for its own title that of The Book of the Master of the Hiddon Places."
• Pythagoras: Greek philosopher, founder of a brotherhood at Crotona, initiate teacher. Krotona, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Calif. : American Theosophist, 1914. Available at Hathitrust.
• The Path of Light in the House of the Hidden Places. Written with Walter Marsham Adams. 1930s. Symbolism, Egypt, Freemasonry.