Foster Bailey

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Foster Bailey was born on March 16, 1888 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.[1][2] His parents were William Kimball Bailey, a civil engineer, and his wife Cora, who also had two daughters.[3] Foster Bailey became an attorney. He enlisted in the U. S. Army on September 18, 1917 and was released from service on March 28, 1918.[4]

Theosophical Society work

Bailey served as National Secretary of the American Theosophical Society in California and met Alice A. Evans, editor of the organization's magazine, The Messenger. When L. W. Rogers was elected President of the Society in 1920, he replaced both of them with other workers and moved the headquarters to Chicago.

Marriage and personal life

On March 14, 1921, Foster and Alice were married in Manhattan, New York.[5] She was divorced with three daughters – Dorothy, Mildred, and Ellison. It was through this marriage that she became a naturalized American citizen.[6] The family traveled to Europe several times.[7] They lived in Connecticut for a few years, but mostly in New York City and New Jersey.

Lucis Publishing and Lucis Trust

In 1922 the Baileys founded a quarterly magazine called The Beacon, which is still being published. They founded Lucifer Publishing Company, which was later renamed as Lucis Publishing Company. They began producing correspondence courses in esoteric philosophy, offered as the Arcane School under the umbrella of Lucis Trust.

Masonry

In 1913, Bailey was initiated into the Charles W. Moore Lodge of Freemasons. He rose to 33rd degree, and wrote The Spirit of Freemasonry.[8]

Later years

Bailey died on June 3, 1977 in New York City.[9]

Writings

Foster Bailey wrote about 130 articles under his own name for The Beacon, according to the Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals, and probably quite a few more under initials or anonymously. He also wrote several books, several of which were translated into German:

  • Changing Esoteric Values. Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Lucis Press, 1955.
  • The Spirit of Masonry. Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Lucis Press 1957 and London: Lucis Press, 1972.
  • Running God's Plan. New York: Lucis Publishing Co., 1972 and London: Lucis Press, 1972.
  • Things to COme. New York: Lucis Publishing Co., 1974 and London: Lucis Press, 1974.
  • Reflections. New York: Lucis Publishing Co., 1979.

Notes

  1. U. S. Census, 1930.
  2. Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915.
  3. U. S. Census, 1910.
  4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.
  5. New York Marriage Index, 1866-1937.
  6. Passenger List of S.S. Galway' , sailing from Galway to New York in 1940.
  7. Passenger List of S.S. Westernland , sailing from Cherbourg to New York in 1931.
  8. Massachusetts, Mason Membership Cards, 1733-1990.
  9. U. S. Social Security Death Index.