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[[ | '''Gerard B. Finch''' was an English [[Theosophist]] and barrister. | ||
== Personal life and career == | |||
</ | Gerard Brown Finch was born on [[June 4]], 1835 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England to John and Nancy Finch. He was admitted to Queens College, Cambridge University on May 4, 1853, and was awarded a B.A. in 1857, and an M.A. in 1860. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn as a barrister in 1857 and was called to the Bar in 1864. Subsequently he returned to Cambridge and taught law. In 1888 Finch was ordained a deacon at Canterbury, but he did not proceed to take priest's orders.<ref>"Gerard Brown Finch," ''Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900.''</ref> | ||
With his first wife, Margaret Elizabeth Finch, he had sons Ernest, Herbert, Alfred, and Arthur, and daughters Alice and Isabella.<ref>1871 England Census, 1881 England Census, 1891 England Census.</ref> After she died in 1897, he married Amelia Janet Kelly the next year.<ref>England Select Marriages, 1538-1973.</ref> Finch died on [[March 24]], 1913 in Cambridge.<ref>U. K. and Ireland, Find a Grave Index.</ref> | |||
== Theosophical Society involvement == | |||
Finch was admitted to the [[London Lodge]] of the [[Theosophical Society]] on January 7, 1883.<ref>Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at [http://tsmembers.org/ http://tsmembers.org/]. See book 1, entry 1587 (website file: 1A/49).</ref> | |||
In December 1883, Finch wrote a '''[[Mahatma_Letter_of_Finch_to_Sinnett_-_1883-12-21|letter]]''' to [[A. P. Sinnett]] providing a nuanced view of [[Anna Bonus Kingsford|Anna Bonus Kingsford's]] role in the [[London Lodge]]. Sinnett forwarded the document to [[Mahatma]] [[Koot Hoomi]], via [[H. P. Blavatsky]], "for considerations." KH instructed HPB to keep the letter and to show [[Mohini Mohun Chatterji|Mohini]]. | |||
Finch was elected president of the [[London Lodge]] in 1884 as a compromise between the [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|Mr. Sinnett]] and [[Anna Bonus Kingsford|Mrs. Kingsford]] factions in the Lodge. He was one of the active members who first attempted to organize an inner group, with the encouragement of Masters [[Koot Hoomi|K.]] and [[Morya|M.]] in '''[[Mahatma Letter to London Lodge - LMW 1 No. 5|Letter No. 5]]''' of the ''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, Series 1''.<ref>Details are provided in [[Mahatma Letter to London Lodge - LMW 1 No. 5|Letter 5]] in the [[Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom (book)|''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, First Series'']].</ref> Lodge meetings were held at his Chancery Lane offices.<ref>See [[Mahatma Letter to H. P. Blavatsky - LMW 1 No. 3|Letter No. 3]] of ''Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, Series 1'', page 4.</ref> On [[April 7]], 1884, [[Henry Steel Olcott|Colonel Olcott]], [[Mohini Mohun Chatterji|Mr. Mohini]], [[Mary Gebhard]], [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Madame Blavatsky]], and Finch saw the astral form of [[Morya|Mahatma M.]] during Col. Olcott’s opening speech of the [[London Lodge]] at Mr. Finch’s rooms. | |||
When the [[Blavatsky Lodge|Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society]] was organized in London, on [[May 19]], 1887, Mr. Finch was elected as its first President. | |||
Mr. Finch was frequently mentioned in Mahatma Letters and other correspondence: | |||
* [[Bertram Keightley|Bertram Keightley's]] account of receiving a [[Mahatma Letter to a Group - MHM No. 14|letter from Master K. H.]] phenomenally on August 10, 1884 stated that Finch was present at the time.<ref>Quoted from an unpublished draft of the ''First Report of the Committee of the Society for Psychical Research, Appointed to Investigate the Evidence for Marvellous Phenomena offered by Certain Members of the Theosophical Society'' preserved in the Archives of the Society for Psychical Research.]</ref> | |||
* In [[Blavatsky Letter to Sinnett - LBS No. 40|Letter No. 40]] of [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']], around November 1884, H. P. Blavatsky quoted Finch's viewpoint about [[Mohini Mohun Chatterji|Mohini's]] book [[Man: Fragments of Forgotten History (book)|''Man: Fragments of a Forgotten History'']]. | |||
* Finch gave a large illustrated edition of [[The Light of Asia (book)|''The Light of Asia'']] to [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|HPB]]. On the flyleaf of the book is written: 'H. P. Blavatsky from her friend, [[G. B. Finch|Gerard Brown Finch]].' A [[Mahatma Letter to H. P. Blavatsky - LMW 1 No. 49|notation]] was added phenomenally by [[Morya|Master M.]] The book is at Adyar. | |||
== Society for Psychical Research == | |||
As of December 1883, Finch was a member of the [[Society for Psychical Research]], which put him in company with such people as Henry Sidgwick, [[William Stainton Moses]], [[Roden Noel]], [[George Lane-Fox|St. George Lane-Fox]], [[George Wyld]], [[Francesca Arundale]], [[Richard Hodgson]], [[Frederic W. H. Myers]], [[Alfred Percy Sinnett]], and Charles Dodgson [AKA Lewis Carroll].<ref>1883 SPR Directory.</ref> | |||
== Writings == | |||
* '''''A selection of cases on the English law of contract'''''. Reissued by Gale in its Making of Modern Law series, 2011. | |||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Nationality English|Finch, G. B.]] | |||
[[Category:Attorneys|Finch, G. B.]] | |||
[[Category:SPR members|Finch, G. B.]] | |||
[[Category:Associates of HPB|Finch, G. B.]] | |||
[[Category:People|Finch, G. B.]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:34, 23 September 2024
Gerard B. Finch was an English Theosophist and barrister.
Personal life and career
Gerard Brown Finch was born on June 4, 1835 in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England to John and Nancy Finch. He was admitted to Queens College, Cambridge University on May 4, 1853, and was awarded a B.A. in 1857, and an M.A. in 1860. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn as a barrister in 1857 and was called to the Bar in 1864. Subsequently he returned to Cambridge and taught law. In 1888 Finch was ordained a deacon at Canterbury, but he did not proceed to take priest's orders.[1]
With his first wife, Margaret Elizabeth Finch, he had sons Ernest, Herbert, Alfred, and Arthur, and daughters Alice and Isabella.[2] After she died in 1897, he married Amelia Janet Kelly the next year.[3] Finch died on March 24, 1913 in Cambridge.[4]
Theosophical Society involvement
Finch was admitted to the London Lodge of the Theosophical Society on January 7, 1883.[5]
In December 1883, Finch wrote a letter to A. P. Sinnett providing a nuanced view of Anna Bonus Kingsford's role in the London Lodge. Sinnett forwarded the document to Mahatma Koot Hoomi, via H. P. Blavatsky, "for considerations." KH instructed HPB to keep the letter and to show Mohini.
Finch was elected president of the London Lodge in 1884 as a compromise between the Mr. Sinnett and Mrs. Kingsford factions in the Lodge. He was one of the active members who first attempted to organize an inner group, with the encouragement of Masters K. and M. in Letter No. 5 of the Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, Series 1.[6] Lodge meetings were held at his Chancery Lane offices.[7] On April 7, 1884, Colonel Olcott, Mr. Mohini, Mary Gebhard, Madame Blavatsky, and Finch saw the astral form of Mahatma M. during Col. Olcott’s opening speech of the London Lodge at Mr. Finch’s rooms.
When the Blavatsky Lodge of the Theosophical Society was organized in London, on May 19, 1887, Mr. Finch was elected as its first President.
Mr. Finch was frequently mentioned in Mahatma Letters and other correspondence:
- Bertram Keightley's account of receiving a letter from Master K. H. phenomenally on August 10, 1884 stated that Finch was present at the time.[8]
- In Letter No. 40 of The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett, around November 1884, H. P. Blavatsky quoted Finch's viewpoint about Mohini's book Man: Fragments of a Forgotten History.
- Finch gave a large illustrated edition of The Light of Asia to HPB. On the flyleaf of the book is written: 'H. P. Blavatsky from her friend, Gerard Brown Finch.' A notation was added phenomenally by Master M. The book is at Adyar.
Society for Psychical Research
As of December 1883, Finch was a member of the Society for Psychical Research, which put him in company with such people as Henry Sidgwick, William Stainton Moses, Roden Noel, St. George Lane-Fox, George Wyld, Francesca Arundale, Richard Hodgson, Frederic W. H. Myers, Alfred Percy Sinnett, and Charles Dodgson [AKA Lewis Carroll].[9]
Writings
- A selection of cases on the English law of contract. Reissued by Gale in its Making of Modern Law series, 2011.
Notes
- ↑ "Gerard Brown Finch," Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900.
- ↑ 1871 England Census, 1881 England Census, 1891 England Census.
- ↑ England Select Marriages, 1538-1973.
- ↑ U. K. and Ireland, Find a Grave Index.
- ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 1587 (website file: 1A/49).
- ↑ Details are provided in Letter 5 in the Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, First Series.
- ↑ See Letter No. 3 of Letters from the Masters of the Wisdom, Series 1, page 4.
- ↑ Quoted from an unpublished draft of the First Report of the Committee of the Society for Psychical Research, Appointed to Investigate the Evidence for Marvellous Phenomena offered by Certain Members of the Theosophical Society preserved in the Archives of the Society for Psychical Research.]
- ↑ 1883 SPR Directory.