Albert Powell Warrington

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A. P. Warrington as international vice president, taken June, 4 1933

Albert Powell Warrington was an attorney and banker who served as President of the American Theosophical Society from 1912-1920 and who founded the Krotona colony in Hollywood.

A. P. Warrington in Theosophical Messenger, September 1911

Early years

A. P. Warrington was born in Berlin, Maryland on August 27, 1866. in His father, William Warrington, was a planter.

A. P. and Betty Warrington after wedding

Early theosophical work

A. P. Warrington was admitted to the American Theosophical Society on June 23, 1896. His membership was sponsored by Alexander Fullerton and Hannah E. Phillips. He studied Theosophy by correspondence with Fullerton, who was then General Secretary of the American Section, and soon met Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater when they were touring in the United States.

In 1905 he was employed by Colonel Olcott, the President of The Theosophical Society, to aid in obtaining the Fuente bequest in Cuba; and incidentally, spent a month there in close touch with the Colonel himself.

In 1906 he attended his first Convention (in Chicago) and was one of the little handful to take a strong and successful stand there in the fight for true fellowship in the Society. As Chairman of a number of subsequent Conventions, when the same question was being fought over in one way or another, he was an important factor in the maintenance of America's stand for Brotherhood.

A. P. Warrington in Krotona, Hollywood

Founding of Krotona

In 1910 he went to California, where in 1912, with generous assistance he founded the Theosophical center in Hollywood known as Krotona, of which he has since been the leading spirit. To the up-building of this child of his dreams he gave some of the best years of his life. Previously (1907) he had been appointed the Corresponding Secretary of the E. S. for North and South America, and soon after staring this center he was made General Secretary (1912) of the American Section.

Presidency

ELECTION......
.. The membership of the American Section was more than doubled during this period.

Travels with Annie Besant

After seven years, Warrington resigned from his position as General Secretary and began a period of travel with the international Society's president, Dr. Besant, to Australia, England, France, and India.

Returning from Australia he accompanied Krishnamurti and Nityananda to Ojai Valley in California, where he arranged for their sojourn of nearly a year. This visit formed the basis of Krishnaji's interest in Ojai and the later development of his home there, the periodical Camps, etc.

In 1924, with Dr. Besant's approval, Mr. Warrington ordered the Hollywood Krotona estates to be sold and the center removed to Ojai Valley where it is now located on a lovely site of a mid-valley hill, or ridge, chosen by Mr. Warrington because of its very great beauty.

Move of Krotona to Ojai

In 1924, with Dr. Besant's approval, Mr. Warrington ordered the Hollywood Krotona estates to be sold and the center removed to Ojai Valley where it is now located on a lovely site of a mid-valley hill, or ridge, chosen by Mr. Warrington because of its very great beauty.

As Vice President of TS Adyar

Vice President of TS Adyar

In 1928 Dr. Besant nominated Warrington to be vice president, replacing Mr. Jinarājadāsa. Following confirmation by the General Council, Mr. Warrington turned over his position as Corresponding Secretary of the E. S. to Marie Poutz.

In the autumn of 1931 he was called to Adyar because of the continuing illness of the President. There he represented her in preparing the annual reports for the years 1931 and 1932 and at her death, on September 20, 1933, there fell upon him, as Vice-President, the duty and responsibility of the Presidential Office; and for the period of nine months provided in the constitution for the choosing of a new President he served in that capacity. Because of ill health he chose not to be a candidate for the office and therefore utilized the period of the interregnum to safely and smoothly carry the Society through the term when its future policies were being determined by the members. In the midst of the naturally contending forces of such a period he rendered splendid service to the Society in maintaining its principles and keeping it steadily on its course.

Under his editorship and his writing of the "Watch Tower Notes" The Theosophist continued as an inspiration and a welding influence among members throughout the world.

His term as President Pro Tem ended in June, 1934, when George Arundale took office following the election.

Final years

Following his years in Adyar, Warrington returned to Krotona in Ojai, California. He was a member of Ojai Valley Oaks Lodge and continued to be a member of the General Council of the Theosophical Society until 1937. on June 16, 1939, he died in Ojai. Cremation took place on June 17.

Writings

Mr. Warrington served as editor of The American Theosophist [First Series], 1913-14, and its successor The Theosophic Messenger, issues 4-8 titled "The American Theosophist and the Theosophic Messenger."

He authored 217 articles under the name AP Warrington, another 37 [mostly book reviews and obituaries] under the initials APW, and probably numerous others anonymously or as the General Secretary or National President.

The Encyclopedia American requesteOtherwise,.........................