Vera Johnston - Revision history

Janet Kerschner: /* Writings */

2025-05-23T12:12:37Z

Writings

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:12, 23 May 2025
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	== Writings ==		== Writings ==

	Mrs. Johnston translated some of her aunt's letters from the Russian for publication in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']], [[Lucifer (periodical)\|''Lucifer'']], and other periodicals, and also her book '''''From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan'''''. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists [~~http~~://~~www.austheos~~.org.au/~~cgi-bin~~/~~ui-csvsearch.pl~~?~~search~~=Vera+Johnston&~~method~~=~~all 22~~ articles by ~~or about~~ Vera Johnston].		Mrs. Johnston translated some of her aunt's letters from the Russian for publication in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']], [[Lucifer (periodical)\|''Lucifer'']], and other periodicals, and also her book '''''From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan'''''. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=Vera+Johnston&s=author 19 articles by Vera Johnston]''' and '''[https://theosophicalsociety.org.au/union_index/entries?q=Vera+Johnston&s=title 3 articles about her]'''.

	== Additional resources ==		== Additional resources ==

SysopJ: /* Online resources */

2024-11-13T23:23:50Z

Online resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:23, 13 November 2024
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	Mrs. Johnston translated some of her aunt's letters from the Russian for publication in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']], [[Lucifer (periodical)\|''Lucifer'']], and other periodicals, and also her book '''''From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan'''''. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists [http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Vera+Johnston&method=all 22 articles by or about Vera Johnston].		Mrs. Johnston translated some of her aunt's letters from the Russian for publication in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']], [[Lucifer (periodical)\|''Lucifer'']], and other periodicals, and also her book '''''From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan'''''. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists [http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Vera+Johnston&method=all 22 articles by or about Vera Johnston].

	==~~Online~~ resources==		== Additional resources ==
	===Articles===
			'''Note:''' Shawn F. Higgins has written dozens of very well-researched articles about Charles and Vera Johnston. They are available at [https://www.patheos.com/search?q=Vera+Johnston#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=Vera%20Johnston&gsc.page=1 Patheos]. Most of this material has not yet been merged into the wiki articles.

			=== Articles ===
	*[http://orthodoxhistory.org/2010/08/05/orthodoxy-and-theosophy-the-vera-johnston-story# Orthodoxy and Theosophy: the Vera Johnston story] by Matthew Namee		*[http://orthodoxhistory.org/2010/08/05/orthodoxy-and-theosophy-the-vera-johnston-story# Orthodoxy and Theosophy: the Vera Johnston story] by Matthew Namee

SysopJ: /* Theosophical Society involvement */

2024-11-13T21:04:27Z

Theosophical Society involvement

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:04, 13 November 2024
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	Vera de Zhelihovsky was admitted as a member of the [[Theosophical Society]] on June 25, 1884, in London, on the same day as Madame Blavatsky's aunt, [[Nadyezhda Andreyevna de Fadeyev\|Madame Nadya Fadieff (or Fadeyev)]].<ref>Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at [http://tsmembers.org/ http://tsmembers.org/]. See book 1, entry 2906 (website file: 1B/2).</ref> She met many members of Madame Blavatsky's Inner Group, including future husband Charles Johnston.		Vera de Zhelihovsky was admitted as a member of the [[Theosophical Society]] on June 25, 1884, in London, on the same day as Madame Blavatsky's aunt, [[Nadyezhda Andreyevna de Fadeyev\|Madame Nadya Fadieff (or Fadeyev)]].<ref>Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at [http://tsmembers.org/ http://tsmembers.org/]. See book 1, entry 2906 (website file: 1B/2).</ref> She met many members of Madame Blavatsky's Inner Group, including future husband Charles Johnston.

	From December 1894 to December 1895, after the death of Mme. Blavatsky, she translated ~~at the request of [[William Quan Judge\|William Q. Judge]]~~ her aunt's Russian-language letters to her family, so that they could be published in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']].<ref>Mary K. Neff, ''Personal Memoris of H. P. Blavatsky, (New York: Dutton, 1937), 241.</ref>		From December 1894 to December 1895, after the death of Mme. Blavatsky, she translated her aunt's Russian-language letters to her family, so that they could be published in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']], at the request of [[William Quan Judge\|William Q. Judge]].<ref>Mary K. Neff, ''Personal Memoris of H. P. Blavatsky, (New York: Dutton, 1937), 241.</ref>

	In October of 1896, only a few months after Mr. Judge’s passing, Vera and her husband relocated permanently to New York, to carry on the work Theosophical work. In 1897 the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society in America, (later renamed Theosophical Society)]] headed by [[Ernest Temple Hargrove]].		In October of 1896, only a few months after Mr. Judge’s passing, Vera and her husband relocated permanently to New York, to carry on the work Theosophical work. In 1897 the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society in America, (later renamed Theosophical Society)]] headed by [[Ernest Temple Hargrove]].

SysopJ: /* Personal life */

2024-11-13T21:02:19Z

Personal life

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:02, 13 November 2024
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	Vera Vladimirovna de Zhelihovsky was born in the Russian Empire (in what is now Ukraine), in 1864. She was the daughter of Madame [[Vera Petrovna de Zhelihovsky]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]].		Vera Vladimirovna de Zhelihovsky was born in the Russian Empire (in what is now Ukraine), in 1864. She was the daughter of Madame [[Vera Petrovna de Zhelihovsky]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]].
	[[File:Vera Johnston headstone.jpg\|right\|150px\|thumb\|Vera's headstone at Old St. David's Church]]		[[File:Vera Johnston headstone.jpg\|right\|150px\|thumb\|Vera's headstone at Old St. David's Church]]
	In August, 1888, she married Sanskrit scholar [[Charles Johnston]]. The ceremony took place at Mme. Blavatsky's home, 17, Lansdowne Road, London. [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Col. Olcott]], visiting London at the time, represented Vera's mother and the rest of the family at the civil marriage at the registrar's office.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Fourth Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 71.</ref> Possibly there was a second marriage ceremony in Russia, because Johnston's good friend William Butler Yeats gave this account:		In August, 1888, she married Sanskrit scholar [[Charles Johnston]]. The ceremony took place at Mme. Blavatsky's home, 17, Lansdowne Road, London. [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Col. Olcott]], visiting London at the time, represented Vera's mother and the rest of the family at the civil marriage at the registrar's office.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Fourth Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 71.</ref> Possibly there was a second marriage ceremony in Russia, because Johnston's good friend [[William Butler Yeats]] gave this account:
	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	I have an amusing piece of news you may not have heard. Charles Johnston has followed Madam Blavatsky's niece to Moscow and will there be married to her. He will be back in London with his wife on October the 8th. They told nobody about it. The girl's mother - says Madame - cries unceasingly and Madame herself says they are "Flap Doodles"...		I have an amusing piece of news you may not have heard. Charles Johnston has followed Madam Blavatsky's niece to Moscow and will there be married to her. He will be back in London with his wife on October the 8th. They told nobody about it. The girl's mother - says Madame - cries unceasingly and Madame herself says they are "Flap Doodles"...

SysopJ: /* Personal life */

2024-07-09T21:12:15Z

Personal life

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:12, 9 July 2024
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	Vera Vladimirovna de Zhelihovsky was born in the Russian Empire (in what is now Ukraine), in 1864. She was the daughter of Madame [[Vera Petrovna de Zhelihovsky]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]].		Vera Vladimirovna de Zhelihovsky was born in the Russian Empire (in what is now Ukraine), in 1864. She was the daughter of Madame [[Vera Petrovna de Zhelihovsky]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]].
	[[File:Vera Johnston headstone.jpg\|right\|150px\|thumb\|Vera's headstone at Old St. David's Church]]		[[File:Vera Johnston headstone.jpg\|right\|150px\|thumb\|Vera's headstone at Old St. David's Church]]
	In August, 1888, she married Sanskrit scholar [[Charles Johnston]]. The ceremony took place at Mme. Blavatsky's home, 17, Lansdowne Road, London. [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Col. Olcott]], visiting London at the time, represented Vera's mother and the rest of the family at the civil marriage at the registrar's office.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Fourth Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 71.</ref> ~~They did~~ not have ~~children~~.		In August, 1888, she married Sanskrit scholar [[Charles Johnston]]. The ceremony took place at Mme. Blavatsky's home, 17, Lansdowne Road, London. [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Col. Olcott]], visiting London at the time, represented Vera's mother and the rest of the family at the civil marriage at the registrar's office.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Fourth Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 71.</ref> Possibly there was a second marriage ceremony in Russia, because Johnston's good friend William Butler Yeats gave this account:
			<blockquote>
			I have an amusing piece of news you may not have heard. Charles Johnston has followed Madam Blavatsky's niece to Moscow and will there be married to her. He will be back in London with his wife on October the 8th. They told nobody about it. The girl's mother - says Madame - cries unceasingly and Madame herself says they are "Flap Doodles"...

	On [[August 17]], 1920, Vera died of heart disease, at the age of 57.<ref>Certificate of Death. File Number 86876. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health.</ref> Her body was buried in the churchyard of Old St. David's Church (Episcopal), Radnor, Pennsylvania. "The grave is marked by a white stone on which her name is plainly cut."<ref>Dr. Clarence C. Clark letter to Boris de Zirkoff. November 30, 1951. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>		The future Mrs. Johnston is very nice, decidedly pretty, with a laugh like bells of silver, and speaks several languages and is not older than Johnston. If you only head Madame Blavatsky trying to pronounce Ballykilbeg!<ref>W. B. Yeats. ''W. B. Yeats: Letters to Katharine Tynan'' (New York: McMullen Books, Inc., 1953), 70.</ref>
			</blockquote>

			The couple did not have children. On [[August 17]], 1920, Vera died of heart disease, at the age of 57.<ref>Certificate of Death. File Number 86876. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health.</ref> Her body was buried in the churchyard of Old St. David's Church (Episcopal), Radnor, Pennsylvania. "The grave is marked by a white stone on which her name is plainly cut."<ref>Dr. Clarence C. Clark letter to Boris de Zirkoff. November 30, 1951. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>

	== Theosophical Society involvement ==		== Theosophical Society involvement ==

SysopJ at 16:40, 26 May 2021

2021-05-26T16:40:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:40, 26 May 2021
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	'''Vera Vladimirovna Johnston''' (née de Zhelihovsky) (1864 - 1920) was a [[Theosophist]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]]. She was the wife of [[Charles Johnston]]. After the death of her aunt the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society (Hargrove)]].		'''Vera Vladimirovna Johnston''' (née de Zhelihovsky) (1864 - 1920) was a [[Theosophist]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]]. She was the wife of [[Charles Johnston]]. After the death of her aunt the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society (Hargrove)]].

	== ~~Biographical information~~ ==		== Personal life ==

	Vera Vladimirovna de Zhelihovsky was born in the Russian Empire (in what is now Ukraine), in 1864. She was the daughter of Madame [[Vera Petrovna de Zhelihovsky]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]].		Vera Vladimirovna de Zhelihovsky was born in the Russian Empire (in what is now Ukraine), in 1864. She was the daughter of Madame [[Vera Petrovna de Zhelihovsky]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]].
			[[File:Vera Johnston headstone.jpg\|right\|150px\|thumb\|Vera's headstone at Old St. David's Church]]
			In August, 1888, she married Sanskrit scholar [[Charles Johnston]]. The ceremony took place at Mme. Blavatsky's home, 17, Lansdowne Road, London. [[Henry Steel Olcott\|Col. Olcott]], visiting London at the time, represented Vera's mother and the rest of the family at the civil marriage at the registrar's office.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' Fourth Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 71.</ref> They did not have children.

	~~In August, 1888, she married Sanskrit scholar~~ [[~~Charles Johnston~~]]. ~~The ceremony took place at Mme~~. ~~Blavatsky~~'s ~~home~~, 17, ~~Lansdowne Road~~, ~~London~~. [[~~Henry Steel Olcott\|Col. Olcott~~]], ~~visiting~~ London ~~at the time~~, ~~represented Vera's mother and~~ the ~~rest of the family at the civil marriage at the registrar~~'s ~~office~~.<ref>~~Henry Steel Olcott~~, ~~''Old Diary Leaves'' Fourth Series~~ (~~Adyar, Madras~~: ~~The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974~~)~~, 71~~.</ref> ~~They did not have children~~.		On [[August 17]], 1920, Vera died of heart disease, at the age of 57.<ref>Certificate of Death. File Number 86876. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health.</ref> Her body was buried in the churchyard of Old St. David's Church (Episcopal), Radnor, Pennsylvania. "The grave is marked by a white stone on which her name is plainly cut."<ref>Dr. Clarence C. Clark letter to Boris de Zirkoff. November 30, 1951. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>

			== Theosophical Society involvement ==

			Vera de Zhelihovsky was admitted as a member of the [[Theosophical Society]] on June 25, 1884, in London, on the same day as Madame Blavatsky's aunt, [[Nadyezhda Andreyevna de Fadeyev\|Madame Nadya Fadieff (or Fadeyev)]].<ref>Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at [http://tsmembers.org/ http://tsmembers.org/]. See book 1, entry 2906 (website file: 1B/2).</ref> She met many members of Madame Blavatsky's Inner Group, including future husband Charles Johnston.

	From December 1894 to December 1895, after the death of Mme. Blavatsky, she translated at the request of [[William Quan Judge\|William Q. Judge]] her aunt's Russian-language letters to her family, so that they could be published in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']].<ref>Mary K. Neff, ''Personal Memoris of H. P. Blavatsky, (New York: Dutton, 1937), 241.</ref>		From December 1894 to December 1895, after the death of Mme. Blavatsky, she translated at the request of [[William Quan Judge\|William Q. Judge]] her aunt's Russian-language letters to her family, so that they could be published in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']].<ref>Mary K. Neff, ''Personal Memoris of H. P. Blavatsky, (New York: Dutton, 1937), 241.</ref>

	In October of 1896, only a few months after Mr. Judge’s passing, Vera and her husband relocated permanently to New York, to carry on the work Theosophical work. In 1897 the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society in America, (later renamed Theosophical Society)]] headed by [[Ernest Temple Hargrove]].		In October of 1896, only a few months after Mr. Judge’s passing, Vera and her husband relocated permanently to New York, to carry on the work Theosophical work. In 1897 the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society in America, (later renamed Theosophical Society)]] headed by [[Ernest Temple Hargrove]].
	~~[[File:Vera Johnston headstone.jpg\|right\|150px\|thumb\|Vera's headstone at Old St. David's Church]]~~
	Sometime after the turn of the century, the Johnstons became also associated with the Russian Orthodox cathedral in New York. In 1912, the Russian Archdiocese moved its seminary to Tenafly, New Jersey. Both Johnstons were deeply involved in the work of the Russian Mission. Vera ran the seminary’s booth at a Russian bazaar in New York City (New York Times, 3/28/1915) and her husband was listed as "Teacher of English Language" there in 1918.<ref>[http://orthodoxhistory.org/2010/08/05/orthodoxy-and-theosophy-the-vera-johnston-story# Orthodoxy and Theosophy: the Vera Johnston story] by The Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas</ref><ref>Post on [http://blavatskynews.blogspot.com/2010/08/orthodoxy-and-theosophy-vera-johnston.html# Orthodoxy and Theosophy: the Vera Johnston story] at Blavatsky News Blog</ref>

	~~Vera and her husband were also members of the [[Order of the Living Christ]].~~

	On [[August 17]], 1920, Vera died of heart disease, at the age of 57.<ref>Certificate of Death. File Number 86876. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health.</ref> Her body was buried in the churchyard of Old St. David's Church (Episcopal), Radnor, Pennsylvania. "The grave is marked by a white stone on which her name is plainly cut."<ref>Dr. Clarence C. Clark letter to Boris de Zirkoff. November 30, 1951. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>

	== Vera and The Secret Doctrine ==		== Vera and The Secret Doctrine ==
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	<blockquote>Generally on coming down in the morning from the bedroom I occupied in the house of [[Mary Gebhard\|Madame Gebhard]] together with my mother, I found my aunt deep in her work. One day I saw evident traces of perplexity written on her face. Not wishing to disturb her I sat down quietly and waited for her to speak. She remained silent a long time with her eyes fixed on some point on the wall, and with a cigarette between her fingers, as was her custom. At last she called out to me:		<blockquote>Generally on coming down in the morning from the bedroom I occupied in the house of [[Mary Gebhard\|Madame Gebhard]] together with my mother, I found my aunt deep in her work. One day I saw evident traces of perplexity written on her face. Not wishing to disturb her I sat down quietly and waited for her to speak. She remained silent a long time with her eyes fixed on some point on the wall, and with a cigarette between her fingers, as was her custom. At last she called out to me:
	~~<br>~~
	"Vera", she said, "do you think you could tell me what is a pi?"		"Vera", she said, "do you think you could tell me what is a pi?"
	~~<br>~~
	Rather astonished at such a question, I said I thought a pie was some kind of an English dish.		Rather astonished at such a question, I said I thought a pie was some kind of an English dish.
	~~<br>~~
	"Please don't make a fool of yourself", she said rather impatiently, "don't you understand I address you in your capacity of a mathematical pundit. Come and see this."		"Please don't make a fool of yourself", she said rather impatiently, "don't you understand I address you in your capacity of a mathematical pundit. Come and see this."
	~~<br>~~
	I looked at the page that lay before her on the table, and saw it was covered with figures and calculations, and soon became aware that the formula π = 3.14159 was put down wrongly throughout them all. It was written π = 31.4159. With great joy and triumph I hastened to inform her of her mistake.		I looked at the page that lay before her on the table, and saw it was covered with figures and calculations, and soon became aware that the formula π = 3.14159 was put down wrongly throughout them all. It was written π = 31.4159. With great joy and triumph I hastened to inform her of her mistake.
	~~<br>~~
	"That’s it!" she exclaimed. "This confounded [decimal point] bothered me all the morning. I was rather in a hurry yesterday to put down what I saw, and today at the first glance at the page I intensely but vaguely felt there was something wrong, and do what I could I could not remember where the [decimal point] actually was when I saw this number."		"That’s it!" she exclaimed. "This confounded [decimal point] bothered me all the morning. I was rather in a hurry yesterday to put down what I saw, and today at the first glance at the page I intensely but vaguely felt there was something wrong, and do what I could I could not remember where the [decimal point] actually was when I saw this number."
	~~<br>~~
	Knowing very little of Theosophy in general and my aunt’s ways of writing in particular at that time, I of course was greatly struck with her not being able to correct such a slight mistake in the very intricate calculations she had written down with her own hand.		Knowing very little of Theosophy in general and my aunt’s ways of writing in particular at that time, I of course was greatly struck with her not being able to correct such a slight mistake in the very intricate calculations she had written down with her own hand.
	~~<br>~~
	"You are very green", she said, "if you think that I actually know and understand all the things I write. How many times am I to repeat to you and your mother that the things I write are dictated to me, that sometimes I see manuscripts, numbers, and words before my eyes of which I never knew anything."<ref>Daniel Caldwell, ''The Esoteric World of Mme. Blavatsky'', (Wheaton, IL: Quest Books, 2000), 304-305.</ref></blockquote>		"You are very green", she said, "if you think that I actually know and understand all the things I write. How many times am I to repeat to you and your mother that the things I write are dictated to me, that sometimes I see manuscripts, numbers, and words before my eyes of which I never knew anything."<ref>Daniel Caldwell, ''The Esoteric World of Mme. Blavatsky'', (Wheaton, IL: Quest Books, 2000), 304-305.</ref></blockquote>

	The passage in question is probably Mme. Blavatsky's commentary to the [[Stanzas_of_Dzyan#Stanza_IV\|Stanza IV]] sloka 3 of the first volume of ''The Secret Doctrine''.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 90-91.</ref>		The passage in question is probably Mme. Blavatsky's commentary to the [[Stanzas_of_Dzyan#Stanza_IV\|Stanza IV]] sloka 3 of the first volume of ''The Secret Doctrine''.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 90-91.</ref>

			== Involvement in other organizations ==

			Sometime after the turn of the century, the Johnstons became also associated with the Russian Orthodox cathedral in New York. In 1912, the Russian Archdiocese moved its seminary to Tenafly, New Jersey. Both Johnstons were deeply involved in the work of the Russian Mission. Vera ran the seminary’s booth at a Russian bazaar in New York City (New York Times, 3/28/1915) and her husband was listed as "Teacher of English Language" there in 1918.<ref>[http://orthodoxhistory.org/2010/08/05/orthodoxy-and-theosophy-the-vera-johnston-story# Orthodoxy and Theosophy: the Vera Johnston story] by The Society for Orthodox Christian History in the Americas</ref><ref>Post on [http://blavatskynews.blogspot.com/2010/08/orthodoxy-and-theosophy-vera-johnston.html# Orthodoxy and Theosophy: the Vera Johnston story] at Blavatsky News Blog</ref>

			Vera and her husband were also members of the [[Order of the Living Christ]].

	== Writings ==		== Writings ==

	Mrs. Johnston translated some of her aunt's letters from the Russian for publication in [[Lucifer (periodical)\|''Lucifer'']] and other periodicals, and also her book '''''From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan'''''. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists [http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Vera+Johnston&method=all 22 articles by or about Vera Johnston].		Mrs. Johnston translated some of her aunt's letters from the Russian for publication in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']], [[Lucifer (periodical)\|''Lucifer'']], and other periodicals, and also her book '''''From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan'''''. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists [http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Vera+Johnston&method=all 22 articles by or about Vera Johnston].

	==Online resources==		==Online resources==

SysopJ at 21:53, 9 May 2019

2019-05-09T21:53:39Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:53, 9 May 2019
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	[[File:Vera Johnston.jpg\|200px\|right\|thumb\|Vera Jelihovsky Johnston<br>in St. Petersbourg, 1894.]]		[[File:Vera Johnston.jpg\|200px\|right\|thumb\|Vera Jelihovsky Johnston<br>in St. Petersbourg, 1894.]]
	'''Vera Vladimirovna Johnston''' (née de Zhelihovsky) (1864 - ~~1923~~) was a [[Theosophist]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]]. She was the wife of [[Charles Johnston]]. After the death of her aunt the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society (Hargrove)]].		'''Vera Vladimirovna Johnston''' (née de Zhelihovsky) (1864 - 1920) was a [[Theosophist]] and niece of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|H. P. Blavatsky]]. She was the wife of [[Charles Johnston]]. After the death of her aunt the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society (Hargrove)]].

	== Biographical information ==		== Biographical information ==
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	Vera and her husband were also members of the [[Order of the Living Christ]].		Vera and her husband were also members of the [[Order of the Living Christ]].

	~~It is not clear when she~~ died. ~~Biographies tend to date her death around 1923, although her tombstone indicates 1920~~. Her body was buried in the churchyard of Old St. David's Church (Episcopal), Radnor, Pennsylvania. "The grave is marked by a white stone on which her name is plainly cut."<ref>Dr. Clarence C. Clark letter to Boris de Zirkoff. November 30, 1951. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>		On [[August 17]], 1920, Vera died of heart disease, at the age of 57.<ref>Certificate of Death. File Number 86876. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health.</ref> Her body was buried in the churchyard of Old St. David's Church (Episcopal), Radnor, Pennsylvania. "The grave is marked by a white stone on which her name is plainly cut."<ref>Dr. Clarence C. Clark letter to Boris de Zirkoff. November 30, 1951. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref>

	== Vera and The Secret Doctrine ==		== Vera and The Secret Doctrine ==

Janet Kerschner at 19:20, 17 January 2018

2018-01-17T19:20:57Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:20, 17 January 2018
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	The passage in question is probably Mme. Blavatsky's commentary to the [[Stanzas_of_Dzyan#Stanza_IV\|Stanza IV]] sloka 3 of the first volume of ''The Secret Doctrine''.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 90-91.</ref>		The passage in question is probably Mme. Blavatsky's commentary to the [[Stanzas_of_Dzyan#Stanza_IV\|Stanza IV]] sloka 3 of the first volume of ''The Secret Doctrine''.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 90-91.</ref>

			== Writings ==

			Mrs. Johnston translated some of her aunt's letters from the Russian for publication in [[Lucifer (periodical)\|''Lucifer'']] and other periodicals, and also her book '''''From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan'''''. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists [http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Vera+Johnston&method=all 22 articles by or about Vera Johnston].

	==Online resources==		==Online resources==
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	[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Johnston, Vera]]
	[[Category:Nationality Russian\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:Nationality Russian\|Johnston, Vera]]
			[[Category:Writers\|Johnston, Vera]]
	[[Category:People\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:People\|Johnston, Vera]]

Janet Kerschner at 03:48, 9 October 2017

2017-10-09T03:48:13Z

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	[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Johnston, Vera]]
	[[Category:Nationality Russian\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:Nationality Russian\|Johnston, Vera]]
			[[Category:People\|Johnston, Vera]]

Janet Kerschner: /* Vera and The Secret Doctrine */

2014-08-13T14:35:14Z

Vera and The Secret Doctrine

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	== Vera and The Secret Doctrine ==		== Vera and The Secret Doctrine ==

	In June 1886, Vera and her ~~mom~~ visited Mme. Blavatsky in Elberfeld, Germany, where her aunt was writing [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|''The Secret Doctrine'']]. Later she wrote the following reminiscence of her time there with HPB:		In June 1886, Vera and her mother visited Mme. Blavatsky in [[Elberfeld, Germany]], where her aunt was writing [[The Secret Doctrine (book)\|''The Secret Doctrine'']]. Later she wrote the following reminiscence of her time there with HPB:

	<blockquote>Generally on coming down in the morning from the bedroom I occupied in the house of Madame Gebhard together with my mother, I found my aunt deep in her work. One day I saw evident traces of perplexity written on her face. Not wishing to disturb her I sat down quietly and waited for her to speak. She remained silent a long time with her eyes fixed on some point on the wall, and with a cigarette between her fingers, as was her custom. At last she called out to me:		<blockquote>Generally on coming down in the morning from the bedroom I occupied in the house of [[Mary Gebhard\|Madame Gebhard]] together with my mother, I found my aunt deep in her work. One day I saw evident traces of perplexity written on her face. Not wishing to disturb her I sat down quietly and waited for her to speak. She remained silent a long time with her eyes fixed on some point on the wall, and with a cigarette between her fingers, as was her custom. At last she called out to me:
	<br>		<br>
	"Vera", she said, "do you think you could tell me what is a pi?"		"Vera", she said, "do you think you could tell me what is a pi?"

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:04, 13 November 2024
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	Vera de Zhelihovsky was admitted as a member of the [[Theosophical Society]] on June 25, 1884, in London, on the same day as Madame Blavatsky's aunt, [[Nadyezhda Andreyevna de Fadeyev\|Madame Nadya Fadieff (or Fadeyev)]].<ref>Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at [http://tsmembers.org/ http://tsmembers.org/]. See book 1, entry 2906 (website file: 1B/2).</ref> She met many members of Madame Blavatsky's Inner Group, including future husband Charles Johnston.		Vera de Zhelihovsky was admitted as a member of the [[Theosophical Society]] on June 25, 1884, in London, on the same day as Madame Blavatsky's aunt, [[Nadyezhda Andreyevna de Fadeyev\|Madame Nadya Fadieff (or Fadeyev)]].<ref>Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at [http://tsmembers.org/ http://tsmembers.org/]. See book 1, entry 2906 (website file: 1B/2).</ref> She met many members of Madame Blavatsky's Inner Group, including future husband Charles Johnston.

	From December 1894 to December 1895, after the death of Mme. Blavatsky, she translated ~~at the request of [[William Quan Judge\|William Q. Judge]]~~ her aunt's Russian-language letters to her family, so that they could be published in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']].<ref>Mary K. Neff, ''Personal Memoris of H. P. Blavatsky, (New York: Dutton, 1937), 241.</ref>		From December 1894 to December 1895, after the death of Mme. Blavatsky, she translated her aunt's Russian-language letters to her family, so that they could be published in [[The Path (periodical)\|''The Path'']], at the request of [[William Quan Judge\|William Q. Judge]].<ref>Mary K. Neff, ''Personal Memoris of H. P. Blavatsky, (New York: Dutton, 1937), 241.</ref>

	In October of 1896, only a few months after Mr. Judge’s passing, Vera and her husband relocated permanently to New York, to carry on the work Theosophical work. In 1897 the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society in America, (later renamed Theosophical Society)]] headed by [[Ernest Temple Hargrove]].		In October of 1896, only a few months after Mr. Judge’s passing, Vera and her husband relocated permanently to New York, to carry on the work Theosophical work. In 1897 the Johnstons became members of the [[Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove)\|Theosophical Society in America, (later renamed Theosophical Society)]] headed by [[Ernest Temple Hargrove]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:20, 17 January 2018
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	The passage in question is probably Mme. Blavatsky's commentary to the [[Stanzas_of_Dzyan#Stanza_IV\|Stanza IV]] sloka 3 of the first volume of ''The Secret Doctrine''.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 90-91.</ref>		The passage in question is probably Mme. Blavatsky's commentary to the [[Stanzas_of_Dzyan#Stanza_IV\|Stanza IV]] sloka 3 of the first volume of ''The Secret Doctrine''.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''The Secret Doctrine'' vol. I, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 90-91.</ref>

			== Writings ==

			Mrs. Johnston translated some of her aunt's letters from the Russian for publication in [[Lucifer (periodical)\|''Lucifer'']] and other periodicals, and also her book '''''From the Caves and Jungles of Hindostan'''''. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists [http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=Vera+Johnston&method=all 22 articles by or about Vera Johnston].

	==Online resources==		==Online resources==
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	[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Johnston, Vera]]
	[[Category:Nationality Russian\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:Nationality Russian\|Johnston, Vera]]
			[[Category:Writers\|Johnston, Vera]]
	[[Category:People\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:People\|Johnston, Vera]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:48, 9 October 2017
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	[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:Associates of HPB\|Johnston, Vera]]
	[[Category:Nationality Russian\|Johnston, Vera]]		[[Category:Nationality Russian\|Johnston, Vera]]
			[[Category:People\|Johnston, Vera]]