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[[File: Ccmassey.jpg|200px|right]]
'''Charles Carleton Massey''' ([[December 23]], 1838 - [[March 29]], 1905) was an English barrister who was keenly interested in [[Spiritualism]]. He was present on September 8, 1875, at the [[Founders|founding]] of the [[Theosophical Society]]. According to [[Josephine Ransom]], "he was one of the ablest metaphysicians in Great Britain, and a lucid and scholarly writer on psychical subjects."<ref>Josephine Ransom, ''A Short History of The Theosophical Society'' (Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 112.</ref>  

A biographical sketch in the [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']] describes Massey this way:<br>
<blockquote>
Massey, Charles Carlton, an English lawyer much interested in [[Spiritualism|spiritualism]]. He went to the USA in 1875  to visit [[Chittenden, Vermont]], to verify for himself [[Henry Steel Olcott|HSO's]] accounts of the [[Eddy phenomena]] (See [[Old Diary Leaves (book)|ODL]] 1) and became a life-long friend of HSO. He was one of the first members of the [[Theosophical Society|TS]] and later a founder and first president of the [[Theosophical Society in England|TS in England]]. He was also one of the founders of the [[Psychical Research Society]] and, after the [[Hodgson Report]] was issued, he resigned from the TS. HPB tried hard to get the [[Mahatmas]] to teach him but they refused ([[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|ML]], pp. 411-12). See [[A Short History of the Theosophical Society (book)|SH]], p. 112, for a brief resume of his career. [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|ML]] index.<ref>George E. Linton and Virginia Hanson, eds., ''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' (Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1972), 238-239.</ref></blockquote>

== Theosophical Society in England ==

In 1877, Massey helped to establish the Theosophical Society , England, which came to be known as the [[London Lodge]]. He became the first president of the [[London Lodge]] from [[June 27]], 1878 to early 1880, and again from August 1882 until [[January 6]], 1883.

== Involvement with Mahatmas ==

Massey figured prominently in the Mahatma Letters, and is mentioned in more than 20 of them. [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] regarded him as a very honest person, but considered he was not strong enough to become a [[chela]]. In [[Mahatma Letter No. 92#Page 3|one of his letters]] he wrote:

<blockquote>Doubtless a more sincere, truthful or a more noble minded man ([[William Stainton Moses|S. Moses]] not excepted) could hardly be found among the British [[theosophist]]s. His only and chief fault is — weakness.  Were he to learn some day how deeply he has wronged [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H.P.B.]] in thought — no man would feel more miserable over it than himself.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 92 (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 289.</ref></blockquote>

== Incidents involving phenomena ==
Historian [[Josephine Ransom]] described this incident:

<blockquote>
Before [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H. P. B.]] left London in 1879, Massey requested her to give relief to his father, whose eyesight was seriously impaired. To establish contact she took with her a pair of Mr. Massey's (senior) gloves. After arrival in Bombay H. P. B., by occult means, sent one glove to London, [[February 17|17 February]]. Having been advised by a lady medium to be at home on the 17th, Massey waited in a darkened room, and  presently a soft packet was flung in his face. The remaining glove was sent by post for comparison. This incident got into the papers and annoyed Massey, who complained that such publicity cost him his practice. <ref>Josephine Ransom, ''A Short History of The Theosophical Society'' (Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 112.</ref>
</blockquote>

== Later years ==
Massey was one of the founders of the [[Psychical Research Society]] in 1882. When that organization attacked Madame Blavatsky as a fraud, he left the Theosophical Society. 

Massey passed away March 29, 1905 of heart disease.

== Writings ==

Massey translated several works from the German:
* Zöllner's ''Transcendental Physics''
* Carl du Prel's ''Philosophy of Mysticism''
* von Hartmann's ''Spiritism''

Articles by C. C. Massey have appeared in several Theosophical periodicals:

* "The Supernatural," ''The Theosophist'' vol. 1 (March 1880), 137.
* "True and False Personality," ''The Theosophist'' vol. 2 (December 1880), 57.
* "Theosophy and Spiritualism," ''The Theosophist'' vol. 2 (September 1881), 260. Reprinted from ''The Spiritualist''.
* "Esoteric Buddhism by AP Sinnett," ''The Theosophist'' vol. 3 (October, 1881), 2. 
* "Astrology," ''The Theosophist'' vol. 4 (August, 1883), 288. Review reprinted from ''Light''.
* "Scientific Verification of "Spiritual" Phenomena," ''The Theosophist'' vol. 5 (August, 1884), 267. Review reprinted from ''Light''.
* "The Idea of Re-birth' by Francesca Arundale, " Lucifer'' vol. 7 (February, 1891), 490. Book review.
* "Opinions des anciens sur les corps physiques," ''Le Lotus'' vol. 3 (August 1888), 257. Reprint with notes by HPB.
* "A Lost Account of Theosophical Origins," ''Theosophical History'' no. 1 (October, 1985), 83. Account of the Butterfly incident, reprinted from ''Light'' July 16 1892.
* "Ancient Opinions Upon Psychic Bodies," ''Theosophical Siftings'' 1:2 (1888), 15. Reprint from ''The Theosophist'' December 1879.

== Other resources ==

* "Blavatsky Letters: to CC Massey," ''The Eclectic Theosophist'' no. 78 (November-December, 1983), 9.
* "Death of CC Massey," ''The Theosophist'' vol. 26 (1905), 34. Obituary.

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Associates of HPB|Massey, Charles C.]]
[[Category:Founders|Massey, Charles C.]]
[[Category:Spiritualists|Massey, Charles C.]]
[[Category:Attorneys|Massey, Charles C.]]
[[Category:General Secretaries in TS Adyar|Massey, Charles C.]]
[[Category:Nationality English|Massey, Charles C.]]
[[Category:Hermetic Society|Massey, Charles C.]]