Founders: Difference between revisions
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When the term '''"The Founders"''' is used the early writings such as [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']], it usually refers to [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] and [[Henry Steel Olcott]]. | When the term '''"The Founders"''' is used the early writings such as [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']], it usually refers to [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] and [[Henry Steel Olcott]]. | ||
Col. Olcott himself regarded the people present during the formative meetings of the Theosophical Society more as "formers" than ''founders''. He wrote: | |||
<blockquote>The Society, then, had sixteen formers—to use the most apposite term—not founders; for the stable founding was a result of hard work and self-sacrifice, of years, and during a part of that time H.P.B. and I worked quite alone in the trenches, laying the strong foundation. Our colleagues either went out entirely, or became list-less, or were prevented by force of circumstances from devoting their time and efforts to the work.<ref>Henry Steel Olcott, ''Old Diary Leaves'' First Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 122.</ref></blockquote> | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
Revision as of 22:43, 19 February 2014
The Theosophical Society was formed in series of six meetings that took place from September to November, 1875, in New York City. The first meeting, on September 7, was a lecture, after which the idea of forming a Society was proposed. The organization of the Society began in the next meeting held on September 8. The following names were recorded as being part of the founders of the Society:[1][2]
At the subsequent preliminary meetings the earlier signatories were joined by others whose names were added to the roster of "founders". Some of the new names mentioned include: Dr. Seth Pancoast, Rev. J. H. Wiggin, Dr. W. H. Atkinson, Dr. H. Carlos, Tudor Horton, Edwin S. Ralphs, R. B. Westbrook, and Francisco Agromonte.
On October 30, 1875, the officers of the Theosophical Society were elected, as follows:
- President: Col. H. S. Olcott
- Vice-Presidents: G. H. Felt and Dr. S. Pancoast
- Corresponding Secretary: Mme H. P. Blavatsky
- Recording Secretary: John Storer Cobb
- Treasurer: H. J. Newton
- Librarian: Charles Sotheran
- Councillors: Rev. J. H. Wiggin, R. B. Westbrook, Mrs. E. H. Britten, Dr. C. E. Simmons, and H. D. Monachesi.
- Counsel to the Society: William Q. Judge
"The Founders"
When the term "The Founders" is used the early writings such as The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett, it usually refers to Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott.
Col. Olcott himself regarded the people present during the formative meetings of the Theosophical Society more as "formers" than founders. He wrote:
The Society, then, had sixteen formers—to use the most apposite term—not founders; for the stable founding was a result of hard work and self-sacrifice, of years, and during a part of that time H.P.B. and I worked quite alone in the trenches, laying the strong foundation. Our colleagues either went out entirely, or became list-less, or were prevented by force of circumstances from devoting their time and efforts to the work.[3]
Notes
- ↑ Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa, Golden Book of the Theosophical Society (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1925), 19-20.
- ↑ Henry Steel Olcott, Old Diary Leaves First Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 121-122.
- ↑ Henry Steel Olcott, Old Diary Leaves First Series (Adyar, Madras: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1974), 122.
Online resources
- The Invisible Founders of the Theosophical Society by K. Paul Johnson