Foster Bailey
Foster Bailey was an American publisher and writer who established the Lucis Trust, the Arcane School, and The Beacon magazine, working with his wife Alice Bailey.
Early life
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. The family included another son and daughter.[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 was admitted to the American Theosophical Society on October 27, 1917, probably on a "Liberty" membership that was offered to servicemen in World War I.[5] After the war he served as National Secretary of the American Theosophical Society at its headquarters in Hollywood, California. There he met an Englishwoman, Mrs. 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. Bailey and Evans moved to New York City. They were active in the Central Lodge; an example of this activity was cosponsoring Marie M. Montreuil for membership on an application signed March 7, 1921, one week before their marriage.[6] Bailey continued to be a member of the Society almost continuously until June 30, 1930.
Marriage and personal life
On March 14, 1921, Foster and Alice were married in Manhattan, New York.[7] She was divorced with three daughters – Dorothy, Mildred, and Ellison. It was through this marriage that she became a naturalized American citizen.[8] The family traveled to Europe several times.[9] Apart from a few years in Connecticut, they mostly resided 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 Masonry.[10]
Later years
Bailey died on June 3, 1977 in New York City.[11]
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 and French:
- 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.
He also wrote chapters of his wife's work, An Unauthorized Autobiography, which is available from the website of Lucis Trust.
Notes
- ↑ U. S. Census, 1930.
- ↑ Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915.
- ↑ U. S. Census, 1910.
- ↑ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010.
- ↑ Membership Ledger Cards Roll 1. [Microfilm record] Theosophical Society in America Archives.
- ↑ Membership Blue Ledger Cards Roll 1. [Microfilm record] Theosophical Society in America Archives.
- ↑ New York Marriage Index, 1866-1937.
- ↑ Passenger List of S.S. Galway, sailing from Galway to New York in 1940.
- ↑ Passenger List of S.S. Westernland , sailing from Cherbourg to New York in 1931.
- ↑ Massachusetts, Mason Membership Cards, 1733-1990.
- ↑ U. S. Social Security Death Index.