James S. Perkins

James Perkins in 1943. Image from TSA Archives.

Perkins family with Ray Whorf

James S. Perkins was President of the Theosophical Society in America from 1945 to 1960 and Vice President of the international Theosophical Society based in Adyar, India for ten years beginning in 1961. He was a commercial artist and author of several books.

Early years

James Scudday Perkins, Jr. was born June 29, 1899. His family lived in Patterson, Louisiana, a small town on a bayou in the south central region of the state, where the principal employer was a cypress sawmill. He registered for the draft in World War I, but did not have to serve. At that time he was a clerk in a grocery owned by the family. He entered the University of Cincinnati to study civil engineering, but switched to the study of art after a visit to the city's art museum. He attended the Art Academy in Cincinnati, then the Art Students' League in New York, and the Grand Central School of Art in New York.

While in Cincinnati, he met Kathrine Galbreath, another art student, and they married. The couple had one daughter, Torre Perkins, and the family settled in Cincinnati. Torre later married Theosophist Ray Whorf, son of linguistic theorist Benjamin Lee Whorf. That wedding took place in the library at the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in America.

Theosophical work

James S. Perkins. Image from TSA Archives.

James and Kathrine Perkins at Olcott in 1947. Image from TSA Archives.

Kathrine Perkins, by Richard Chesrow

He was a founding member of a branch of the American Theosophical Society in Cincinnati, which formed on December 20, 1928. He was lodge president for six years, and also served five terms as president of the Ohio Theosophical Federation, which he helped to found.

James Perkins was elected to the Board of the Theosophical Society in America in 1936. Three years later he began the first of three terms as Vice-President in the administration of Sidney A. Cook. During all these years, Perkins frequently lectured for the Society all over the United States. His lectures addressed a wide range of topics of interest to the general public and Theosophists, but often touched on art and beauty. He was also very concerned with current affairs, such as "Men of the Atomic Age" in 1948, following the Hiroshima bombing, and "The Significance of Man's New Space Awareness" following the 1957 launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik. Dr. Richard Brooks, himself an outstanding lecturer, said that while Perkins' "prepared lectures ... were not particularly inspiring," when JSP spoke extemporaneously "he could bring the buddhic plane down to the physical and wrap it around your ears."

Years as President

In 1945 Mr. Perkins assumed the Presidency of the Theosophical Society in America, when Sidney A. Cook resigned to become International Vice-President in Adyar, and served until 1960. National Secretaries during his administration were Ann Werth (until 1950) and Caroline Tess. These are some of the accomplishments of the Perkins years:

• 1945 - Formed six committees concerned with the growth of the Society:

Field Technique
Publicity Pamphlets
Public Classes

Worker Training
Integration
Headquarters Expansion

• 1945 - Transformed the Publicity Department into the Department of Information, under the direction of Joy Mills.
• 1945 - Began publishing Discovery, a small leaflet that was published regularly for ten years as a tool for lodges to promote Theosophical concepts and their own local programs. Total circulation probably reached over a million copies.
• 1945 - Participated in a panel discussion on "The Philosophy of Religious Education" at Wheaton College, along with four Christian speakers.
• 1946 - Introduced the "Spotlight" program of national lecturers to "Speed the Popularization of Theosophy". Among the lecturers were Kathrine Perkins, Joy Mills, Alan Hooker, Nedra Ruder, and Iris White, and their efforts led to increase in membership and establishment of several new branches. By 1960, membership had reached 4565, the highest point since 1933.
• 1947 - Established a new line of paperbacks in the Theosophical Publishing House, with a bequest from Herbert A. Kern, Sr.
• 1947 - Established a scholarship fund to finance trips to Adyar for several Theosophical workers, including Ann Kerr, Mr. and Mrs. E. Norman Pearson, and others.
• 1947 - Participated on February 10-14 in a United Nations conference of intergovernmental groups.
• 1947 - Traveled to Switzerland for a Round Table conference that drew participants from 18 countries, with President Arundale and twelve General Secretaries present. There were five meetings of the European Federation Council.
• 1949 - Expanded recordings available for shipment to radio stations.
• 1950 - Commemorated the 75th anniversary of the TS by printing a adhesive "Brotherhood Stamp" that members could purchase to seal their letters.
• 1952 - Developed a master plan for improvements to the headquarters estate, including a pond that he personally helped to excavate. Other construction that later arose from this plan included a series of garages for staff members and the Joy Mills Building that houses the Theosophical Publishing House.
• 1954 - Began a series of worker training sessions.
• 1955 - Established the Theosophical Investment Trust, with financial aid from Clarence Ohlendorf, Herbert A. Kern, Sr., John Sellon, Sidney A. Cook, Alonzo G. Decker, Sr., and others.
• 1955 - Began a series of National Theosophical Conferences held in various cities until 1962.
• 1956 - Established weekly broadcasts of Theosophical radio programs in numerous cities; invited members to submit scripts suitable for radios.

During his presidency, Mr. Perkins toured the country every year, lecturing. He also served as editor of The American Theosophist. Kathrine Perkins took charge of the kitchen and housekeeping departments for the headquarters. Like her husband, she frequently lectured across the country.

In his role as General Secretary for the American Section, one of his responsibilities was to attend the International Convention in Adyar. His first convention in the postwar era was in 1947 when he and Kathrine experienced a culture shock, "particularly as we had arrived in India via Karachi and Delhi, visiting and speaking to Theosophists, amidst the breaking apart of India and Pakistan".

In 1948 when he and Mrs. Perkins were about to leave for International Convention again - this time in Benares - the Olcott staff realized that the couple would miss the American yearend holidays. They held a surprise Christmas celebration complete with tree, food, and gifts in the library just following Thanksgiving dinner. The party was called "Thankxmas." In another account from the mid-1950s, "he gathered all the Olcott staff in the building's living room and led us in hymn singing accompanying us on the piano... probably a heritage from his early Southern Baptist upbringing."

Mr. Perkins was badly injured from being struck by a car while strolling along Geneva Road near the headquarters. He suffered from temporary damage to his eyes, severe headaches, and a badly broken right leg. He wrote of being free from pain and apparently "out of body" during the experience. After several weeks of traction in a hospital, he was able to complete his recovery at Olcott with the aid of a "Perkins Recovery Fund" from members.

Work with the United Nations

James and Kathrine Perkins, at lower right, at United Nations' conference for intergovernmental groups

Achievement of world peace cooperation was a great concern to Mr. Perkins. As early as 1942, he was anticipating the formation of the United Nations in his speeches and writings:

If the postwar world establishes a federation of free peoples, strong enough to promise the end of military aggression, “we will have a world in which human intelligence will organize and distribute the ample resources of Nature and devote itself to human progress rather than to destruction,” James S. Perkins, vice-president of the Theosophical Society in America, said in a lecture at the society’s rooms here last night.

“But tomorrow’s world,” he cautioned, “will inevitably grow out of today’s acts. Since human progress advances or falls upon the moral and spiritual integrity of the main body of its individuals, the condition of tomorrow’s world rests squarely upon the question whether men in their daily lives are giving expression to those universal principles which are the ethical foundations of any great and enduring world order.”

He anticipated formation of a "United Nations of the World" by designing a flag, color reproductions of which were sold to lodges as he toured speaking about "Mankind Beyond War."

After World War II, he was appointed by Adyar president C. Jinarājadāsa to be the Theosophical Society's delegate to the opening conference of international groups, held at Lake Placid, New York. About 250 people attended, representing over 100 organizations. This was one of the earliest sessions establishing the now-huge body of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that work with the United Nations on many issues. Perkins wrote about the meeting and described how Theosophists could help the UN in communicating its resources and missions:

It is precisely because the UN is the most advanced effort in the direction of brotherhood ever made by collective mankind that Theosophists should support it in every possible way...

The principle requisite is to stimulate a direct interest in the activities of the UN by broadcasting information about its programs and needs. A study of this world-wide organization of human energy being applied realistically to the major problems of freeing the world of want and fear cannot fail to arouse our interest and enthusiasm. Once grasped, the integrated pattern of the UN's various departments and commissions produces a sense of wholeness which is unfortunately lacking in the minds of most people.

Throughout the conference... the need was expressed again and again to inform people of the world in all languages of the character and the operations of the various departments of the UN. Mrs. Perkins and I were impressed with the unique opportunity afforded individual members of The Theosophical Society and the Theosophical Order of Service to serve in this capacity. Lodges or members can initiate programs to distribute information if they will become acquainted with the general set-up of the UN, discovering what information is available and how it may be used.

Years as International Vice-President

James Perkins served as Vice-President of the international Theosophical Society in Adyar for over ten years, beginning in 1961, during the administration of N. Sri Ram. During those years, he lived at the headquarters in Adyar, India, but was very active lecturing internationally. He spoke in several European countries, and in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. His wife Kathrine continued lecturing, as well, and was co-director of the School of the Wisdom at Adyar. After Mr. Sri Ram died in April 8, 1973, Mr. Perkins served as Acting President, conducting the annual White Lotus Day celebration and inaugurating the Annual Workers' Training Camp held from May 7-21.

Later years

Toward the end of the term as International Vice President, Mr. and Mrs. Perkins moved to Sydney, Australia, where he was head of The Manor from 1971 to 1977, replacing Dr. Van Den Broek. Joy Mills wrote,

Perkins traveled extensively, and later became resident head of the Manor, the theosophical and E.S. center in Sydney, Australia. He was called back to Adyar in 1973 upon the death of the president, and was in charge during the interim before the election of John Coats to that office in 1974. He then returned to Australia until 1977 when he and his wife Kathryn settled at Taormina in Ojai, California.

In Ojai, he served as president of the Taormina Theosophical community. His wife Kathrine "his companion of 66 years... was constantly at his side during his theosophical work and travels. He died on November 19, 1991, survived by a daughter, Torre Perkins Whorf Taggart, and her sons Timothy Whorf and James Taggart." He was remembered as "a charming and articulate theosophical worker."

Kathrine survived until November 19, 1995. Joy Mills described her as "a singularly beautiful incarnation of devoted service to the work of the Society."

Art

James Perkins was a commercial artist. He frequently used his professional skills to illustrate books about Theosophical concepts. His drawing "From the One the Many Return to the One" was made into an oil painting by a Cuban artist. Over six feet high, it was hung in "the temple" in San Juan, Puerto Rico and was described as "a great source of inspiration to all of the members, and to all who see it." His style is reminiscent of the Idealist artists like Jean Delville.

The following are examples of his book illustrations.

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Here are examples of how Mr. Perkins used drawings to enliven letters to members.

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Writings

Cover of Visual Meditations

Writing is always an important activity of TSA presidents, and James Perkins was no exception. He wrote editorials for The American Theosophist, numerous journal articles, and colorfully illustrated books. The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals has over 400 articles written by or about him under the name James Perkins. They include articles published in many prominent Theosophical journals: The Theosophist, The Light Bearer, Theosophy in New Zealand, and Le Lotus Bleu, among others. In addition to serving as editor of The American Theosophist, he was founding editor in 1946 of Discovery. During some of his time in Adyar, he edited The Theosophist, and most notably the June 1973 issue commemorating the life of N. Sri Ram.

He also wrote these books, listed chronologically:

• Open Immortal Eyes. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1948. This booklet was written when the author was President of the TSA. It discusses how humans are learning to use senses beyond the physical ones of mortal beings. The title is a quotation from William Blake, "I rest not from my great task to open the eternal worlds, to open the immortal eyes of man . . . the human imagination."

• Freedom Through Intuition. Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Press, 1951.

• Night Reveals The Stars: A Discourse On Man's Origin And Powers. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Press, 1952.

• Reincarnation for Everyone. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1956. This booklet was written when the author was President of the TSA. It is a basic introduction to the concepts of reincarnation.

• Mankind's Survival: the Way of Harmony. Adyar, Chennai, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1958. Originally printed in The Theosophist, February and March 1958, which was transcribed from a lecture at the 82nd International Convention at Adyar, in December, 1957. This booklet points out how modern science is confronting the idea that life is coming forth from within, which the author regards as the key concept of the 20th century.

• Keys to Wholeness of Being. Adyar, Chennai, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1961. Originally printed in The Theosophist, September and October 1960. Key Knowledge, Key Direction, Key Procedure, and Key Motion are the elements that help humans achieve wholeness.

• Through Death to Rebirth. First edition: Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1961. Quest Books edition published in 1973. Illustrated by the author with drawings and two colored plates. This book was written during Perkins' term as International Vice-President. The dynamic and symbolic illustrations help to guide the reader to better understanding of the process of death. Can be borrowed through Internet Archive.

• Visual Meditations on the Universe. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1961. This was printed under the Quest Books imprint. This volume uses over 30 color plates created by the author intended to take the reader on a journey through creation and evolution according to Theosophical tradition. According to Susan Bullock Brown, Torre Taggart collaborated with her father in this work.

• A Geometry of Space-Consciousness. Adyar, Chennai, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1964. This book has illustrations that demonstrate complex concepts like "orbits of human consciousness" and "space-consciousness in seven dimensions."

• Space-Flight and Superstition. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Press, 1960s. Leaflet.

• Experiencing Reincarnation. Wheaton, Illinois: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1977. A Quest Book. Illustrated by the author. This volume provides much useful information about the nature and occurrence of reincarnation, and what happens to the subtle bodies in the process of death and rebirth.

Online resources

Articles

• Reminscences of James Scudday Perkins by Richard W. Brooks.
• Perkins, James Scudday in Theosophy World.