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'''Mary Gebhard''' (née L’Estrangge) (1832 - 1892). She married | '''Mary Gebhard''' (née L’Estrangge) (1832 - 1892). She was the widow and only daughter of the British Major Thomas L’Estrange (of the 36th Reg.), who belonged to the Protestant branch of this old family, descending from Rollo, First Duke of Normandy. He had married a Catholic Irish lady, Sarah Egan, which brought about strained relations with his family. Mary never met any relatives on her father’s side. At the conclusion of the Spanish campaign against Napoleon, her father had gone to Paris, where Mary was educated at the Sacré Coeur, and presented at the Court. Having lost his property, her father left for Canada, where he bought some land near Montreal. After his death in 1850, her mother sold the land and went to the U.S.A. with Mary.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 19898), 434.</ref> | ||
[[ | She met [[Gustav Gebhard]] in New York, on his first journey to America, and married him on [[September 4]], 1852, the ceremony being performed according to both the Catholic and the Protestant rites. The newly-married couple settled in Elberfeld, Germany, where their seven children were eventually born. | ||
She | Mary Gebhard was not too happy living in a small town. Owing to the many business trips of her husband, she was left very much to herself. Her father-in-law, Franz-Joseph G., was the only member of the family who had a sympathetic understanding of her outlook. She had an inborn inclination towards philosophical and occult subjects, and studied Hebrew with a clergyman, to become fitted for independent research in the [[Kabbalah]]. She made the acquaintance of the Abbé Alphonse Louis Constant, who, under his pseudonym of [[Éliphas Lévi Zahed|Eliphas Levi]], wrote well-known occult works, and remained his pupil until his death in 1875. She visited him several times in Paris, and he visited the Gebhards twice in Elberfeld.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 19898), 434.</ref> | ||
After the death of Éliphas Lévi, Mary G. sought other occult connections. She heard of the [[Theosophical Society]], and after an exchange of letters with [[Henry Steel Olcott|Col. Olcott]], became a member therof. In 1884, [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H. P. Blavatsky]], Col. Olcott, [[Mohini M. Chatterjee]] and [[Babaji]] came to Europe. | |||
On [[July 27]], 1884, the Germania Theosophical Society was organized at their home at Elberfeld, Platzhoffstrasse 12, with Dr. [[William Hübbe-Schleiden]] as President, Mary Gebhard as Vice-President, and Franz Gebhard as Corresponding Secretary. All the members of the Gebhard Family, except their daughter, joined the Theosophical Society. | |||
On [[August 17]], 1884, Mme. Blavatsky and her party arrived in Elberfeld on Aug. 17, 1884, and stayed with the Gebhards until October. During this time the Gebhards’ home which became the center of Theosophical activities. In May and June, 1886, H.P.B. stayed with the Gebhards again. | |||
While [[Gustav Gebhard|Consul Gustav Gebhard]] was of course the official host during these visits, the most dynamic personality of the household was Mary, who combined refinement and culture with rare capacities for occult studies. | |||
On more than one occasion, she received letters from the [[Masters of Wisdom|Masters]]. She also saw the astral form of [[Morya|Master M.]] in a meeting of the [[London Lodge]]: | |||
<blockquote>On the [[April 7|7th of April]] last [1884], being, at a meeting of the Theosophical Society at Mr. Finch’s rooms, Lincoln’s Inn, I had a vision, in which I saw the Mahatma M. At the moment I was listening attentively to Colonel Olcott’s opening speech to the Society. I saw standing on my right side, a little in front, a very tall, majestic-looking person, whom I immediately recognised to be the Mahatma, from a picture I had seen of him in Mr. Sinnett’s possession. He was not clad in white, but it seemed to me to be some dark material with coloured stripes, which was wound round his form. The vision lasted only a few seconds. As far as I could learn, the only persons besides myself who had seen the Mahatma were Colonel Olcott, Mr. Mohini, and, of course, Madame Blavatsky.<ref>[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/mastersencounterswith.htm# A Casebook of Encounters with the Theosophical Mahatmas] Case 43, compiled and edited by Daniel H. Caldwell</ref></blockquote> | <blockquote>On the [[April 7|7th of April]] last [1884], being, at a meeting of the Theosophical Society at Mr. Finch’s rooms, Lincoln’s Inn, I had a vision, in which I saw the Mahatma M. At the moment I was listening attentively to Colonel Olcott’s opening speech to the Society. I saw standing on my right side, a little in front, a very tall, majestic-looking person, whom I immediately recognised to be the Mahatma, from a picture I had seen of him in Mr. Sinnett’s possession. He was not clad in white, but it seemed to me to be some dark material with coloured stripes, which was wound round his form. The vision lasted only a few seconds. As far as I could learn, the only persons besides myself who had seen the Mahatma were Colonel Olcott, Mr. Mohini, and, of course, Madame Blavatsky.<ref>[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/mastersencounterswith.htm# A Casebook of Encounters with the Theosophical Mahatmas] Case 43, compiled and edited by Daniel H. Caldwell</ref></blockquote> | ||
Her vital strength was sapped as a result of the suicide of both of her twin-sons. After several strokes, she passed away on [[December 15]], 1892. Her remains were cremated. | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 16:29, 3 September 2013
Mary Gebhard (née L’Estrangge) (1832 - 1892). She was the widow and only daughter of the British Major Thomas L’Estrange (of the 36th Reg.), who belonged to the Protestant branch of this old family, descending from Rollo, First Duke of Normandy. He had married a Catholic Irish lady, Sarah Egan, which brought about strained relations with his family. Mary never met any relatives on her father’s side. At the conclusion of the Spanish campaign against Napoleon, her father had gone to Paris, where Mary was educated at the Sacré Coeur, and presented at the Court. Having lost his property, her father left for Canada, where he bought some land near Montreal. After his death in 1850, her mother sold the land and went to the U.S.A. with Mary.[1]
She met Gustav Gebhard in New York, on his first journey to America, and married him on September 4, 1852, the ceremony being performed according to both the Catholic and the Protestant rites. The newly-married couple settled in Elberfeld, Germany, where their seven children were eventually born.
Mary Gebhard was not too happy living in a small town. Owing to the many business trips of her husband, she was left very much to herself. Her father-in-law, Franz-Joseph G., was the only member of the family who had a sympathetic understanding of her outlook. She had an inborn inclination towards philosophical and occult subjects, and studied Hebrew with a clergyman, to become fitted for independent research in the Kabbalah. She made the acquaintance of the Abbé Alphonse Louis Constant, who, under his pseudonym of Eliphas Levi, wrote well-known occult works, and remained his pupil until his death in 1875. She visited him several times in Paris, and he visited the Gebhards twice in Elberfeld.[2]
After the death of Éliphas Lévi, Mary G. sought other occult connections. She heard of the Theosophical Society, and after an exchange of letters with Col. Olcott, became a member therof. In 1884, H. P. Blavatsky, Col. Olcott, Mohini M. Chatterjee and Babaji came to Europe.
On July 27, 1884, the Germania Theosophical Society was organized at their home at Elberfeld, Platzhoffstrasse 12, with Dr. William Hübbe-Schleiden as President, Mary Gebhard as Vice-President, and Franz Gebhard as Corresponding Secretary. All the members of the Gebhard Family, except their daughter, joined the Theosophical Society.
On August 17, 1884, Mme. Blavatsky and her party arrived in Elberfeld on Aug. 17, 1884, and stayed with the Gebhards until October. During this time the Gebhards’ home which became the center of Theosophical activities. In May and June, 1886, H.P.B. stayed with the Gebhards again.
While Consul Gustav Gebhard was of course the official host during these visits, the most dynamic personality of the household was Mary, who combined refinement and culture with rare capacities for occult studies.
On more than one occasion, she received letters from the Masters. She also saw the astral form of Master M. in a meeting of the London Lodge:
On the 7th of April last [1884], being, at a meeting of the Theosophical Society at Mr. Finch’s rooms, Lincoln’s Inn, I had a vision, in which I saw the Mahatma M. At the moment I was listening attentively to Colonel Olcott’s opening speech to the Society. I saw standing on my right side, a little in front, a very tall, majestic-looking person, whom I immediately recognised to be the Mahatma, from a picture I had seen of him in Mr. Sinnett’s possession. He was not clad in white, but it seemed to me to be some dark material with coloured stripes, which was wound round his form. The vision lasted only a few seconds. As far as I could learn, the only persons besides myself who had seen the Mahatma were Colonel Olcott, Mr. Mohini, and, of course, Madame Blavatsky.[3]
Her vital strength was sapped as a result of the suicide of both of her twin-sons. After several strokes, she passed away on December 15, 1892. Her remains were cremated.
Notes
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 19898), 434.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Collected Writings vol. VI (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 19898), 434.
- ↑ A Casebook of Encounters with the Theosophical Mahatmas Case 43, compiled and edited by Daniel H. Caldwell
Online resources
Articles
- Mary Gebhard at Theosopedia.
- A Short Letter from Mahatma Koot Hoomi to Mary Gebhard published by Blavatsky Study Center.