View source for Mary Hollis Billing

[[File:Mary Hollis-Billing.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Mrs. Mary J. Hollis Billing]]
'''Mrs. Mary J. Hollis Billing''' was a remarkable American medium and member of the [[Theosophical Society]]. [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] said that "among mediums she is the most honest if not the best".<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 103b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 352.</ref> She had two [[Mediumship#Spirit_guides|spirit guides]] who talked freely in direct voice: "James Nolan" and an Indian named "Ski".

== Personal life ==

Mary J. Hollis was born on [[April 24]], 1837, at Jeffersonville, Indiana. She died on [[July 14]], 1908 in Bronx, New York.

== Theosophical involvement ==

According to [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']]:

<blockquote>Mrs. Billing was active in the formation of the [[London Lodge]] but did not join it, preferring to retain her membership in the [[Parent Society]]. At that time (1877), if a member of the Parent Society joined a branch, membership in the former was forfeited ([[A Short History of the Theosophical Society (book)|SH]], p. 103). When [[Henry Steel Olcott|HSO]] composed his first circular explaining the [[Theosophical Society#Origin, Plan and Aims|origin and plan of the TS]] and the aims for which it stood Mrs. Billing took a packet of these circulars to London ([[A Short History of the Theosophical Society (book)|SH]], pp. 104-5). When the [[Founders#"The Founders"|Founders]] went to England in 1879 enroute to India they stayed with Dr. and Mrs. Billing for a time ([[A Short History of the Theosophical Society (book)|SH]], p. 123). At an election of officers in London Lodge on January 5, 1879, [[Harry J. Billing|Dr. Billing]] was elected one of the two vice-presidents ([[A Short History of the Theosophical Society (book)|SH]], p. 124). Of Dr. Billing, [[Mahatma Letter No. 92|ML-54]] (92), pp. 301-2, has some rather severe things to say.<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), 219.</ref>
</blockquote>

== Jim Nolan ==

On October 13, 1887, the ''Religio-Philosophical Journal'' began a series of interviews with questions placed by a reporter to the "control" named Jim Nolan. The interviews took place at 24 Ogden Avenue in Chicago and dealt heavily with the nature of materialization.<ref>William Quan Judge  "About 'Spirit' Materializations" ''The Path'' VI (July 1891), 109-113.</ref>

== Ski ==

Ski (short for "Skiwaukie") was an Indian [[Mediumship#Spirit_guides|spirit guide]] of Mrs. Hollis Billing. It seems that he was a good influence to her. In [[Mahatma Letter No. 103b#Page 4|one of his letters]], [[Koot Hoomi|Master K.H.]] wrote:

<blockquote>She has been a loyal member of the [[Theosophical Society|Society]] from the time she joined it, . . . She also, unless closely watched by "Ski" can turn a traitor — precisely because she is a [[Mediumship|medium]], though it is not likely she would do it — withal she is incapable of either a falsehood or deceit in her normal state.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 103b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 352.</ref></blockquote>

He was also occasionally used by the [[Masters of Wisdom|Masters]] to deliver messages. Again, in the words of the Master:

<blockquote>Suffice then for me to say that "Ski" has more than once served as carrier and even mouthpiece for several of us.<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 103b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 352.</ref></blockquote>

However, as seems to be frequently the case with spirit guides, there were several entities acting under that name, as can be gathered from the Master's statement as to "the shortcomings and crimes of several other "Skis" having been fathered on the real "Ski," and [[C. C. Massey|Mr. Massey]] unable to recognise one from the other".<ref>Vicente Hao Chin, Jr., ''The Mahatma Letters to A.P. Sinnett in chronological sequence'' No. 103b (Quezon City: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 353.</ref>

== Online resources ==
===Articles===
*[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/hollis.htm# Madame H.P. Blavatsky] by Mary Hollis-Billing
*[http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/hpbhollisbillings.htm# Letter from H. P. Blavatsky to Mrs. Hollis Billings] published by Blavatsky Study Center
*[http://www.woodlandway.org/PDF/PP6.10October2010.pdf# Mrs. Mary J. Hollis] by Paul J. Gaunt and Leslie Price. Psypioneer, October 2010, pp. 272-274.
*[http://www.woodlandway.org/PDF/PP6.10October2010.pdf# "Skiwaukie" the Indian spirit-guide] at Psypioneer, October 2010, pp. 274-283.

== Additional resources ==
*N. B. Wolfe, ''Startling Facts in Modern Spiritualism'', (Forgotten Books, 2012).

== Notes ==
<references/>

[[Category:Associates of HPB|Hollis Billing, Mary]]
[[Category:Mediums|Hollis Billing, Mary]]
[[Category:Associates of HPB|Hollis Billing, Mary]]
[[Category:Nationality American|Hollis Billing, Mary]]
[[Category:Spiritualists|Hollis Billing, Mary]]
[[Category:People|Hollis Billing, Mary]]