George Wyld

Dr. George Wyld

Dr. George Wyld (1821 - 1906) was a Scottish homeopathic physician, Spiritualist and Theosophist. He joined the Theosophical Society in 1879 and was the president of the British Theosophical Society in London from early 1880 until August, 1882, when he resigned from the Society. In 1883 and 1884, he wrote several skeptical articles about Mme. Blavatsky and the Masters of Wisdom in the London Spiritualist journal Light.

Biographical information

George Wyld was born at Bonnington Banks, near Edinburgh, on March 17, 1821. As a teenager he studied Greek, Latin, and science. When twenty years old he moved to London. In 1844 he joined the Phrenological Society and later studied medicine, eventually becoming an M.D. in 1851. He also became a Homeopathic physician, practicing this discipline for about 25 years. He published a book on the subject, generating a negative reaction from regular physicians. In 1876 he became the Acting President of the British Homeopathic Society, greatly contributing to the recognition of this branch of medicine. He was also interested in Spiritualism and Mesmerism.

From 1878, for about five or six years, he became involved with the Theosophical Society. In 1882 he joined the "Christo-Philosophical Society" and later became a founding member of the Society for Psychical Research. He continued his career as a "Christian Theosophist", independently from the Theosophical Society.

Dr. George Wyld died in 1906.

Theosophical involvement

Dr. Wyld was present at the first meeting of the British Theosophical Society, held on June 27, 1878, at 38, Great Russell St., London.

Early in 1879 he met H. P. Blavatsky and H. S. Olcott, when they were in London on their way to India. The meeting took place at a dinner party at the Billings' home. He was not very impressed with Mme. Blavatsky, but "her undoubtedly mediumnistic powers, her striking personality, her cleverness and humor, and her evidently kindly instincts" caught his interest, and he joined the Theosophical Society.

Early in 1880 he was elected President of the British Branch of the Society and was a member of the General Council of the Theosophical Society. However, Blavatsky's methods of teaching and training, her lack of social refinement, her "irreverence" in relation to Christianity, and her denial of the existence of an anthropomorphic God, led him to resign from this position in August, 1882. He nevertheless stayed in the Society and on January 7, 1883, was elected Vice-President of the Branch along with Edward Maitland.

He eventually resigned from the Society but did not abandoned theosophy altogether. He blended the Theosophical teachings that appealed to him with his "intense belief in the life, teachings and work of Jesus Christ," and produced his Christo-Theosophy.

Writings

Dr. Wyld wrote on medical and Theosophical topics.

• Homoeopathy. 1853.
• Diseases of the Heart and Lungs: Their Physical Diagnosis, and Homeopathic and Hygienic Treatment. 1860.
• Theosophy and the Higher Life; Or, Spiritual Dynamics and the Divine and Miraculous Man. 1880.
• Theosophy: Or Spiritual Dynamics and the Divine and Miraculous Man. 1895. Also called Christo-Theosophy and the Higher Life; Or, Spiritual Dynamics and the Divine and Miraculous Man.
• Notes of My Life. London: Kegan Paul, 1903.

Additional resources

• George Wyld on Madame Blavatsky published by Blavatsky Study Center.
• Madame Blavatsky and Her "Theosophical" Society published by Blavatsky Study Center.
• Becoming a Theosophist by Henry S. Olcott and George Wyld.
• George Wyld 1821 – 1906 by Sue Young.