William Tournay Brown - Revision history

SysopJ at 23:33, 5 March 2024

2024-03-05T23:33:48Z

SysopJ: /* Additional resources */

2023-11-26T03:44:04Z

Additional resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:44, 26 November 2023
Line 73:		Line 73:
	* Beechey, Katherine A. "W. T. Brown and Two Less Known Letters of the Master K. H." ''The Theosophist'' 109.3 (December, 1987), 87-90.		* Beechey, Katherine A. "W. T. Brown and Two Less Known Letters of the Master K. H." ''The Theosophist'' 109.3 (December, 1987), 87-90.
	* [https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH9823&type=P "William Tournay Brown"] at University of Glasgow website.		* [https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH9823&type=P "William Tournay Brown"] at University of Glasgow website.
			* [https://www.theosophy.world/encyclopedia/brown-william-tournay Brown, William Tournay] in Theosophy World.
	* Gomes, Michael. [https://theohistory.org/thop/volume-iv/ ''W.T. Brown’s “Scenes in My Life”''] in ''Theosophical History Occasional Papers Volume IV.'' Fullerton, California: Theosophical History, 1995. Reprinted from the ''Rochester Post-Express'', 1886, with additional material by Michael Gomes. A library catalog description says: "Under the pseudonym "Carwood Gerald Clark," William Tournay Brown recounts his experiences with members of the Theosophical Society and the Master Koot Hoomi, as originally printed in the ''Rochester Post-Express'', August and September 1886.		* Gomes, Michael. [https://theohistory.org/thop/volume-iv/ ''W.T. Brown’s “Scenes in My Life”''] in ''Theosophical History Occasional Papers Volume IV.'' Fullerton, California: Theosophical History, 1995. Reprinted from the ''Rochester Post-Express'', 1886, with additional material by Michael Gomes. A library catalog description says: "Under the pseudonym "Carwood Gerald Clark," William Tournay Brown recounts his experiences with members of the Theosophical Society and the Master Koot Hoomi, as originally printed in the ''Rochester Post-Express'', August and September 1886.

SysopJ at 21:04, 7 September 2023

2023-09-07T21:04:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:04, 7 September 2023
Line 1:		Line 1:
			[[File:William T Brown at 1884 Convention.jpg\|right\|200px\|thumb\|William Tournay Brown]]
	'''William Tournay Brown''' was born in Glasgow on [[May 16]], 1857, and followed a career in Law. After joining the Theosophical Society in London he sailed for India where he got in touch with [[the Founders]]. His greatest Theosophical contribution was a few written communications he received from [[Koot Hoomi \|Master KH]] and his witnessing of this Master in the flesh, which formed the basis for Brown's defense of the existence of the Masters from such the attack of skeptics as Moncure D. Conway of the Glasgow Herald.		'''William Tournay Brown''' was born in Glasgow on [[May 16]], 1857, and followed a career in Law. After joining the Theosophical Society in London he sailed for India where he got in touch with [[the Founders]]. His greatest Theosophical contribution was a few written communications he received from [[Koot Hoomi \|Master KH]] and his witnessing of this Master in the flesh, which formed the basis for Brown's defense of the existence of the Masters from such the attack of skeptics as Moncure D. Conway of the Glasgow Herald.

Janet Kerschner at 21:04, 4 April 2022

2022-04-04T21:04:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:04, 4 April 2022
Line 63:		Line 63:
	== Writings ==		== Writings ==

	* ''Some Experiences in India''. London: London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, 1884.		* ''Some Experiences in India''. London: London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, 1884. 5–7, 10–11, 12, 13, 15–17. See [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/mastersencounterswith.htm# ''A Casebook of Encounters with the Theosophical Mahatmas''] Case 37, compiled and edited by Daniel H. Caldwell.
	* [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/browncoleman.htm "The Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Religio-Philosophical Journal'' (Chicago), October 16, 1886, p. 2.		* [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/browncoleman.htm "The Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Religio-Philosophical Journal'' (Chicago), October 16, 1886, p. 2.
	* ''My Life''. Freiburg, Germany: D. Lauber, 64 pages. Title page bearing, "The following pamphlet has been prepared for the writer's acquaintances, especially in Scotland."		* ''My Life''. Freiburg, Germany: D. Lauber, 64 pages. Title page bearing, "The following pamphlet has been prepared for the writer's acquaintances, especially in Scotland."
	* [http://iapsop.com/ssoc/1885__brown___theosophical_society_explanatory_treatise.pdf ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'']. Madras: National Press, 1885. 16 pages.		* [http://iapsop.com/ssoc/1885__brown___theosophical_society_explanatory_treatise.pdf ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'']. Madras: National Press, 1885. 16 pages. The only known copy cataloged in a library is at the British Library. Perhaps there is one at Adyar.
	* [https://theohistory.~~org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/thop-iv-scenes_in_my_life-1995~~.~~pdf# Scenes in My Life] in Theosophical History Occasional Papers~~

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

	* Beechey, Katherine A. "W. T. Brown and Two Less Known Letters of the Master K. H." ''The Theosophist'' 109.3 (December, 1987), 87-90.		* Beechey, Katherine A. "W. T. Brown and Two Less Known Letters of the Master K. H." ''The Theosophist'' 109.3 (December, 1987), 87-90.
	* Brown, William T. ''Some Experiences in India''. London: London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, 1884, 5–7, 10–11, 12, 13, 15–17. See [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/mastersencounterswith.htm# ''A Casebook of Encounters with the Theosophical Mahatmas''] Case 37, compiled and edited by Daniel H. Caldwell.
	* [https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH9823&type=P "William Tournay Brown"] at University of Glasgow website.		* [https://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH9823&type=P "William Tournay Brown"] at University of Glasgow website.
	* Gomes, Michael. [https://theohistory.org/thop/volume-iv/ ''W.T. Brown’s “Scenes in My Life”''] in ''Theosophical History Occasional Papers Volume IV.'' Fullerton, California: Theosophical History, 1995. Reprinted from the ''Rochester Post-Express'', 1886, with additional material by Michael Gomes. A library catalog description says: "Under the pseudonym "Carwood Gerald Clark," William Tournay Brown recounts his experiences with members of the Theosophical Society and the Master Koot Hoomi, as originally printed in the ''Rochester Post-Express'', August and September 1886. "		* Gomes, Michael. [https://theohistory.org/thop/volume-iv/ ''W.T. Brown’s “Scenes in My Life”''] in ''Theosophical History Occasional Papers Volume IV.'' Fullerton, California: Theosophical History, 1995. Reprinted from the ''Rochester Post-Express'', 1886, with additional material by Michael Gomes. A library catalog description says: "Under the pseudonym "Carwood Gerald Clark," William Tournay Brown recounts his experiences with members of the Theosophical Society and the Master Koot Hoomi, as originally printed in the ''Rochester Post-Express'', August and September 1886.

	== Notes ==		== Notes ==

Pablo Sender at 22:55, 22 July 2021

2021-07-22T22:55:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:55, 22 July 2021
Line 19:		Line 19:
	On [[April 11]] the ''Glasgow Herald'', a newspaper from his place of birth, published a report by Moncure D. Conway where he was skeptical about the reality of Theosophical phenomena and the Mahatmas. In response, Brown issued a pamphlet of fourteen pages titled, ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'' where, among other things, he gave testimony of the reality of the Masters.		On [[April 11]] the ''Glasgow Herald'', a newspaper from his place of birth, published a report by Moncure D. Conway where he was skeptical about the reality of Theosophical phenomena and the Mahatmas. In response, Brown issued a pamphlet of fourteen pages titled, ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'' where, among other things, he gave testimony of the reality of the Masters.

	Brown left Adyar on [[January 4]], 1885, ~~and traveled most~~ of the ~~rest~~ of his ~~life~~, ~~principally~~ in the US and Europe.		Although Brown had been accepted as a [[Probation\|probationary chela]], he eventually distanced himself from this path. He left Adyar on [[January 4]], 1885, resolving to leave the pursuit of occult studies for the present to return to the ordinary world. After various changes of mind about his future, and failing to find his place in the world, he decided to return to India to search for his Master, K.H. On his way to India, however, he stopped in Europe and decided to tour the continent. When at last he was ready to leave Europe, he changed his mind right before boarding his ship to India, and decided to stay.

	~~Although Brown had been accepted as a [[Probation\|probationary chela]]~~, he ~~eventually distanced himself from this. He~~ got drawn towards esoteric Christianity and felt that the TS was ~~mean~~ for Eastern people. He wrote:		In the meantime, he got drawn towards esoteric Christianity, and felt that the TS was meant for Eastern people. He wrote:

	<blockquote>A great many of us have come to think that we have been running vainly after Eastern mystics and ecstatics, when, within the New Testament itself, we find the Way, the Truth and the Life . . . .We are now prepared to stand by our Essenian Master and to ‘test the Spirits’ in his name.<ref>W. T. Brown and J. Cables, "The Theosophical Mahatmas," The Occult Word 2/6-7 (October-November, 1886), 21.</ref></blockquote>		<blockquote>A great many of us have come to think that we have been running vainly after Eastern mystics and ecstatics, when, within the New Testament itself, we find the Way, the Truth and the Life. . . . We are now prepared to stand by our Essenian Master and to ‘test the Spirits’ in his name.<ref>W. T. Brown and J. Cables, "The Theosophical Mahatmas," The Occult Word 2/6-7 (October-November, 1886), 21.</ref></blockquote>

	H. P. Blavatsky responded to these statements in an article, as follows:		H. P. Blavatsky responded to these statements in an article, as follows:

Pablo Sender at 18:29, 22 July 2021

2021-07-22T18:29:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:29, 22 July 2021
Line 3:		Line 3:
	== Early life ==		== Early life ==

	Michael Gomes writes about Mr. Brown's early life the following:		W. T. Brown was born in Glasgow on [[May 16]], 1857, of elderly parents. His father was a clerk and his mother the daughter of a wealthy Glasgow weaver. He had two older brothers. He was raised narrowly Presbyterian and with the idea that he was born in sin. He and his brothers would later rebel against this teaching. Michael Gomes writes about Mr. Brown's early life the following:

	<blockquote>At the age of 14 he entered the law offices of Bannatynes, Kirkwood & McJannet as a clerk, and at the same time joined the Junior class at Glasgow University, it being the habit for students interested in following a career in Law to attend classes at the University while serving with a legal firm. The death of his father in 1877, and that of his mother two years later, led him to take a deeper interest in religion. At the end of 1880 before taking his examination, he left the law firm of Bannatynes to visit his elder brother who was at Strassburg, Germany. In April 1882 he received the degree of Bachelor of Law from Glasgow University, which he followed with a tour of upstate New York, seeing Niagara Falls and returning to Edinburgh by way of Montreal and Quebec. Studying for his examination in Court Practice at the end of that year, his health gave way. A reading of Spiritualist literature led him to decide to go to London in the spring of 1883 to try the mesmeric cures that were being offered there.<br>		<blockquote>At the age of 14 he entered the law offices of Bannatynes, Kirkwood & McJannet as a clerk, and at the same time joined the Junior class at Glasgow University, it being the habit for students interested in following a career in Law to attend classes at the University while serving with a legal firm. The death of his father in 1877, and that of his mother two years later, led him to take a deeper interest in religion. At the end of 1880 before taking his examination, he left the law firm of Bannatynes to visit his elder brother who was at Strassburg, Germany. In April 1882 he received the degree of Bachelor of Law from Glasgow University, which he followed with a tour of upstate New York, seeing Niagara Falls and returning to Edinburgh by way of Montreal and Quebec. Studying for his examination in Court Practice at the end of that year, his health gave way. A reading of Spiritualist literature led him to decide to go to London in the spring of 1883 to try the mesmeric cures that were being offered there.<br>

Pablo Sender: /* Writings */

2021-07-22T18:17:23Z

Writings

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:17, 22 July 2021
Line 65:		Line 65:
	* ''Some Experiences in India''. London: London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, 1884.		* ''Some Experiences in India''. London: London Lodge of the Theosophical Society, 1884.
	* [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/browncoleman.htm "The Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Religio-Philosophical Journal'' (Chicago), October 16, 1886, p. 2.		* [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/browncoleman.htm "The Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Religio-Philosophical Journal'' (Chicago), October 16, 1886, p. 2.
	* ''My Life''. D. Lauber. 64 pages.		* ''My Life''. Freiburg, Germany: D. Lauber, 64 pages. Title page bearing, "The following pamphlet has been prepared for the writer's acquaintances, especially in Scotland."
	* [http://iapsop.com/ssoc/1885__brown___theosophical_society_explanatory_treatise.pdf ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'']. Madras: National Press, 1885. 16 pages.		* [http://iapsop.com/ssoc/1885__brown___theosophical_society_explanatory_treatise.pdf ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'']. Madras: National Press, 1885. 16 pages.
	* [https://theohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/thop-iv-scenes_in_my_life-1995.pdf# Scenes in My Life] in Theosophical History Occasional Papers		* [https://theohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/thop-iv-scenes_in_my_life-1995.pdf# Scenes in My Life] in Theosophical History Occasional Papers

Pablo Sender at 18:57, 21 July 2021

2021-07-21T18:57:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:57, 21 July 2021
Line 10:		Line 10:
	== Theosophical involvement ==		== Theosophical involvement ==

	Mr. Brown was introduced to [[A. P. Sinnett]] and his writings through the acquaintance [[Mary Gebhard]]. Reading Sinnett’s [[The Occult World (book)\|''The Occult World'']] convinced him of the reality of Theosophy, and he joined the [[London Lodge]] of the Theosophical Society on [[June 3]], 1883.<ref>Gomes, Michael, comp., ''Theosophical History Occasional Papers, Volume IV'' (Fullerton, California, 1995), 2.</ref>		Mr. Brown was introduced to [[A. P. Sinnett]] and his writings through the acquaintance [[Mary Gebhard]]. Reading Sinnett’s [[The Occult World (book)\|''The Occult World'']] convinced him of the reality of Theosophy, and he joined the [[London Lodge]] of the Theosophical Society on [[June 3]], 1883, at the age of 26.<ref>Gomes, Michael, comp., ''Theosophical History Occasional Papers, Volume IV'' (Fullerton, California, 1995), 2.</ref> On [[August 25]], only three months after joining the TS, he sailed for India to meet [[the Founders]].

	According to [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']]:<br>		According to [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']]:<br>
	<blockquote>		<blockquote>
	~~Brown~~, ~~William Tournay, a young Scotsman who had been educated as a lawyer. He joined the TS in London while [[A. P. Sinnett\|APS]] was there and sailed for India in 1883. Apparently~~ he was a man of nervous temperament but of considerable promise. [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|HPB]] sent him to join [[Henry Steel Olcott\|HSO]] and [[Damodar K. Mavalankar\|DKM]], who were on tour in North India ([[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|LBS]], p. 62). In Lahore he was visited by [[Koot Hoomi\|KH]] ([[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|LBS]], p. 68) During the absence of the [[Founders]] from [[Adyar, India]], he served on the [[Board of Control]] appointed by HSO and was present at the time of the [[Hodgson Report\|Hodgson investigation]]. ~~He left India in 1885 and traveled most of the rest of his life, principally in the US and Europe.~~ [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|ML]], p. 421; [[A Short History of the Theosophical Society (book)\|SH]], pp. 184, 185, 192; [[Damodar and the Pioneers of the Theosophical Movement (book)\|D]], p. 570; [[H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings (book)\| HPB]] VI:31, 32, 429; [[Old Diary Leaves (book)\|ODL]] 3: 23, 42; [[Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom (book)\|LMW]] 1: 28. See Chronology <nowiki>[</nowiki>of [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|RG]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>.		Apparently, he was a man of nervous temperament but of considerable promise. [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky\|HPB]] sent him to join [[Henry Steel Olcott\|HSO]] and [[Damodar K. Mavalankar\|DKM]], who were on tour in North India ([[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|LBS]], p. 62). In Lahore he was visited by [[Koot Hoomi\|KH]] ([[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|LBS]], p. 68) During the absence of the [[Founders]] from [[Adyar, India]], he served on the [[Board of Control]] appointed by HSO and was present at the time of the [[Hodgson Report\|Hodgson investigation]]. See [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|ML]], p. 421; [[A Short History of the Theosophical Society (book)\|SH]], pp. 184, 185, 192; [[Damodar and the Pioneers of the Theosophical Movement (book)\|D]], p. 570; [[H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings (book)\| HPB]] VI:31, 32, 429; [[Old Diary Leaves (book)\|ODL]] 3: 23, 42; [[Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom (book)\|LMW]] 1: 28. See Chronology <nowiki>[</nowiki>of [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)\|RG]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>.<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), 222.</ref>
	<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), 222.</ref>
	</blockquote>		</blockquote>

			On [[April 11]] the ''Glasgow Herald'', a newspaper from his place of birth, published a report by Moncure D. Conway where he was skeptical about the reality of Theosophical phenomena and the Mahatmas. In response, Brown issued a pamphlet of fourteen pages titled, ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'' where, among other things, he gave testimony of the reality of the Masters.

			Brown left Adyar on [[January 4]], 1885, and traveled most of the rest of his life, principally in the US and Europe.

			Although Brown had been accepted as a [[Probation\|probationary chela]], he eventually distanced himself from this. He got drawn towards esoteric Christianity and felt that the TS was mean for Eastern people. He wrote:

			<blockquote>A great many of us have come to think that we have been running vainly after Eastern mystics and ecstatics, when, within the New Testament itself, we find the Way, the Truth and the Life . . . .We are now prepared to stand by our Essenian Master and to ‘test the Spirits’ in his name.<ref>W. T. Brown and J. Cables, "The Theosophical Mahatmas," The Occult Word 2/6-7 (October-November, 1886), 21.</ref></blockquote>

			H. P. Blavatsky responded to these statements in an article, as follows:

			<blockquote>I know of one theosophist—let him be nameless though it is hoped he will recognize himself—a quiet, intelligent young gentleman, a mystic by nature, who, in his ill-advised enthusiasm and impatience, changed ''Masters'' and his ideas about half a dozen times in less than three years. First he offered himself, was accepted on probation and took the vow of chelaship; about a year later, he suddenly got the idea of getting married, though he had several proofs of the corporeal presence of his Master, and had several favours bestowed upon him. Projects of marriage failing, he sought "Masters" under other climes, and became an enthusiastic Rosicrucian; then he returned to theosophy as a Christian mystic; then again sought to enliven his austerities with a wife; then gave up the idea and turned a spiritualist. And now having applied once more "to be taken back as a chela" (I have his letter) and his Master remaining silent—he renounced him altogether, to seek in the words of the above manifesto—his old "Essenian Master and ''to test the spirits in his name''.<ref>Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, ''Collected Writings'' vol. VII (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1987), 244-245.</ref></blockquote>

			Brown's reaction to this article was to resign from the Theosophical Society, which he did on [[December 13]], 1886, and began to actively campaign against Blavatsky.<ref>Gomes, Michael, comp., ''Theosophical History Occasional Papers, Volume IV'' (Fullerton, California, 1995), 7-8.</ref></blockquote>

	== Visit from Master K. H. ==		== Visit from Master K. H. ==

Pablo Sender at 17:48, 21 July 2021

2021-07-21T17:48:22Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 According to [[Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']]:<br>
 <blockquote>
@@ Line 21: / Line 34: @@
 == Letters from Master K. H. ==
-Brown received two letters from K. H. They were published in as '''[[Mahatma Letter to W T Brown - LMW 1 No. 21|Letter 21]]''' and '''[[Mahatma Letter to W T Brown - LMW 1 No. 22|Letter 22]]''' in [[Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom (book)|''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, 1881-1888'']], also known as First Series.
+Brown received a few letters from K. H. Two of them were published as '''[[Mahatma Letter to W T Brown - LMW 1 No. 21|Letter 21]]''' and '''[[Mahatma Letter to W T Brown - LMW 1 No. 22|Letter 22]]''' in [[Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom (book)|''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, 1881-1888'']], also known as First Series.
 == Writings ==
@@ Line 28: / Line 53: @@
 * [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/browncoleman.htm "The Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Religio-Philosophical Journal'' (Chicago), October 16, 1886, p. 2.
 * ''My Life''. D. Lauber. 64 pages.
 * [http://iapsop.com/ssoc/1885__brown___theosophical_society_explanatory_treatise.pdf ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'']. Madras: National Press, 1885. 16 pages.
 == Additional resources ==

Luke Ironside 2 at 11:49, 10 March 2020

2020-03-10T11:49:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:49, 10 March 2020
Line 28:		Line 28:
	* [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/browncoleman.htm "The Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Religio-Philosophical Journal'' (Chicago), October 16, 1886, p. 2.		* [http://www.blavatskyarchives.com/browncoleman.htm "The Theosophical Mahatmas"] in ''The Religio-Philosophical Journal'' (Chicago), October 16, 1886, p. 2.
	* ''My Life''. D. Lauber. 64 pages.		* ''My Life''. D. Lauber. 64 pages.
			* [http://iapsop.com/ssoc/1885__brown___theosophical_society_explanatory_treatise.pdf ''The Theosophical Society: An Explanatory Treatise'']. Madras: National Press, 1885. 16 pages.

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