Augustus Francis Knudsen: Difference between revisions
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'''Augustus Francis Knudsen''' (1869-1944) was an American Theosophist from Hawai'i who lectured for the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)|Theosophical Society]] based in Adyar, Chennai, India. He was known to his friends as "Kahuna," meaning priest or wizard in the Hawaiian language. | '''Augustus Francis Knudsen''' (1869-1944) was an American Theosophist from Hawai'i who lectured for the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)|Theosophical Society]] based in Adyar, Chennai, India. He was known to his friends as "Kahuna," meaning priest or wizard in the Hawaiian language. | ||
== Early years, education, and personal life == | == Early years, education, and personal life == | ||
On November 7, 1940, Mr. Knudsen married Miss Ila Fain, who had been a staff member at the Society's [[Olcott (campus)|headquarters]] in Illinois. The service took place in Los Angeles.<ref>"Wedding: Fain-Knudsen," ''The American Theosophist'' 28.12 (December, 1940), 286.</ref> | Mr. Knudsen was born in Hawai'i on [[May 28]], 1869. He was educated in New Zealand, Germany and the United States, training as a civil engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.<ref>"Knudsen, Augustus Francis," ''Theosophical Year Book, 1938'' (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 192.</ref> | ||
On November 7, 1940, Mr. Knudsen married Miss Ila Fain, who had been a staff member at the Society's [[Olcott (campus)|headquarters]] in Illinois. The service took place in Los Angeles.<ref>"Wedding: Fain-Knudsen," ''The American Theosophist'' 28.12 (December, 1940), 286.</ref> He died in 1944. | |||
== Theosophical work == | == Theosophical work == | ||
Mr. Knudsen | Mr. Knudsen was admitted to membership of the [[American Theosophical Society ]] in February, 1897, and stayed at Adyar with [[Henry Steel Olcott|President-Founder H. S. Olcott]] from 1897-1898. During the years 1900-1920 he was a national lecturer in the United States. He very generous and active in support of [[Jiddu Krishnamurti]] and of the [[Krotona Institute of Theosophy]] during its foundational days in Hollywood, California. He served as Dean of the Institute from 1914 to 1920.<ref>"Knudsen, Augustus Francis," ''Theosophical Year Book, 1938'' (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 192.</ref> | ||
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During 1928, Knudsen served as Acting Principal of [[Brahmavidya Ashrama]] in Adyar, in the place of [[James Cousins]], who went on a lecture tour.<ref>''General Report of the Theosophical Society, 1928" page 6 and 29.</ref> While travelling from Adyar to England on his way to the United States, he visited Jugoslavia, Poland, and Czecho-Slovakia, the "baby sections," which he had served for a number of years.<ref>"Mr. Knudsen Returns," ''The Theosophical Messenger'' 17.8 (August 1929), 182.</ref> | In May 1921, A. F. Knudsen was sent by president [[Annie Besant]] to lecture in Europe. During 1928 and 1929, Knudsen served as Acting Principal of [[Brahmavidya Ashrama]] in Adyar, in the place of [[James Cousins]], who went on a lecture tour.<ref>''General Report of the Theosophical Society, 1928" page 6 and 29.</ref> While travelling from Adyar to England on his way to the United States, he visited Jugoslavia, Poland, and Czecho-Slovakia, the "baby sections," which he had served for a number of years.<ref>"Mr. Knudsen Returns," ''The Theosophical Messenger'' 17.8 (August 1929), 182.</ref> | ||
During the 1930s, Mr. Knudsen was appointed as the Presidential Agent to the Far East. | During the 1930s, Mr. Knudsen was appointed as the Presidential Agent to the Far East, based in Shanghai, China. | ||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
Mr. Knudsen made a lecture tour of China in 1936 which raised great enthusiasm and showed many possibilities or future expansion. Under his direction translations are being made of Theosophical literature into Chinese and Japanese and he is taking full advantage of the new ferment of spiritual life to the spread of Theosophy.<ref>''Theosophical Year Book, 1937, The'' (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1937), | Mr. Knudsen made a lecture tour of China in 1936 which raised great enthusiasm and showed many possibilities or future expansion. Under his direction translations are being made of Theosophical literature into Chinese and Japanese and he is taking full advantage of the new ferment of spiritual life to the spread of Theosophy.<ref>''Theosophical Year Book, 1937, The'' (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1937), 150-151.</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
His work for the Shanghai Lodge was very intensive, with a daily talk on Theosophy from 12:05-12:20 pm on every day except Sunday, plus a public lecture | His work for the Shanghai Lodge was very intensive, with a daily talk on Theosophy from 12:05-12:20 pm on every day except Sunday, plus a public lecture every Wednesday afternoon.<ref>"Agent of Dr. Arundale in China," ''The American Theosophist'' 24.6 (June 1936), 143.</ref> | ||
During his five lecture tours of the world, he worked in at least 22 national Sections as well as East Asia. | |||
== Writings == | == Writings == | ||
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<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Lecturers|Knudsen, A. F.]] | [[Category:Lecturers|Knudsen, A. F.]] | ||
[[Category:Educators|Knudsen, A. F.]] | [[Category:Educators|Knudsen, A. F.]] | ||
[[Category:Engineers|Knudsen, A. F.]] | |||
[[Category:Nationality American|Knudsen, A. F.]] | [[Category:Nationality American|Knudsen, A. F.]] | ||
Revision as of 15:33, 31 January 2016
Augustus Francis Knudsen (1869-1944) was an American Theosophist from Hawai'i who lectured for the Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Chennai, India. He was known to his friends as "Kahuna," meaning priest or wizard in the Hawaiian language.
Early years, education, and personal life
Mr. Knudsen was born in Hawai'i on May 28, 1869. He was educated in New Zealand, Germany and the United States, training as a civil engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[1]
On November 7, 1940, Mr. Knudsen married Miss Ila Fain, who had been a staff member at the Society's headquarters in Illinois. The service took place in Los Angeles.[2] He died in 1944.
Theosophical work
Mr. Knudsen was admitted to membership of the American Theosophical Society in February, 1897, and stayed at Adyar with President-Founder H. S. Olcott from 1897-1898. During the years 1900-1920 he was a national lecturer in the United States. He very generous and active in support of Jiddu Krishnamurti and of the Krotona Institute of Theosophy during its foundational days in Hollywood, California. He served as Dean of the Institute from 1914 to 1920.[3]
In May 1921, A. F. Knudsen was sent by president Annie Besant to lecture in Europe. During 1928 and 1929, Knudsen served as Acting Principal of Brahmavidya Ashrama in Adyar, in the place of James Cousins, who went on a lecture tour.[4] While travelling from Adyar to England on his way to the United States, he visited Jugoslavia, Poland, and Czecho-Slovakia, the "baby sections," which he had served for a number of years.[5]
During the 1930s, Mr. Knudsen was appointed as the Presidential Agent to the Far East, based in Shanghai, China.
Mr. Knudsen made a lecture tour of China in 1936 which raised great enthusiasm and showed many possibilities or future expansion. Under his direction translations are being made of Theosophical literature into Chinese and Japanese and he is taking full advantage of the new ferment of spiritual life to the spread of Theosophy.[6]
His work for the Shanghai Lodge was very intensive, with a daily talk on Theosophy from 12:05-12:20 pm on every day except Sunday, plus a public lecture every Wednesday afternoon.[7]
During his five lecture tours of the world, he worked in at least 22 national Sections as well as East Asia.
Writings
Knudsen frequently wrote articles. The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists over 80 articles by or about Knudsen.
Notes
- ↑ "Knudsen, Augustus Francis," Theosophical Year Book, 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 192.
- ↑ "Wedding: Fain-Knudsen," The American Theosophist 28.12 (December, 1940), 286.
- ↑ "Knudsen, Augustus Francis," Theosophical Year Book, 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 192.
- ↑ General Report of the Theosophical Society, 1928" page 6 and 29.
- ↑ "Mr. Knudsen Returns," The Theosophical Messenger 17.8 (August 1929), 182.
- ↑ Theosophical Year Book, 1937, The (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1937), 150-151.
- ↑ "Agent of Dr. Arundale in China," The American Theosophist 24.6 (June 1936), 143.