Mary Rocke

Dr. Mary Rocke in Adyar, 1925

Dr. Mary E. Rocke was a physician who was active in the Theosophical Society based in Adyar, India. She spent many years at The Manor in Australia, attending to C. W. Leadbeater.

Early life and education

Mary Eleanor Rocke was born in late 1865 in Wrexham, Denbighshiree, Wales to Charles and Elizabeth Rocke, who were both born in Wales. Charles was a leather manufacturer; he and Elizabeth had two sons and four daughters who were educated locally.

Mary took an examination at the Apothecary Society in London, and registered at the London School of Medicine on October 5, 1895.

She undertook medical training at the London School of Medicine for Women... In 1900 she was awarded the Licence of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, and the Licence of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Medical career

Dr. Rocke practiced medicine in several places, but much of her career was in London, usually working as a gynaecologist or training midwives. Medical directories described her as:

• M. D. Brux. [Bruxelles or Brussels], with distinction
• London School of Medicine for Women
• L.R.C.P. [Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians]
• L.R.C.S. [Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons], Edinburgh
• L.F.P.S. [Licentiate of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons], Glasgow, 1900
• outpatient physician at Clapham Dispensary for Women and Children
• lecturer at Clapham Maternity Hospital
• occasional lecturer at Midwives' Institute, Strand
• bacteriologist at Rudwick Sanatorium
• member, British Medical Association
• Associate Registrar, Medical Women and Rontgen Society
• Honorary Visiting Physician at Anchorage Mission
• Senior Resident Medical Officer, Battersea District Maternity
• Senior and Junior House Surgeon, Clapham Maternity Hospital

Theosophical Society involvement

Dr. Rocke was admitted to membership in the Theosophical Society in Blavatsky Lodge on October 9, 1909. She was the physician to Annie Besant, president of the Theosophical Society, and became her private secretary for some years. She was present at the TS international headquarters in Adyar when Charles Webster Leadbeater first saw the 13-year-old Jiddu Krishnamurti playing on the beach and recognized his potential as a spiritual leader. When Krishnamurti was announced to be the World Teacher, the Order of the Star in the East (OSE) was formed to support his role, and Dr. Rocke was a very enthusiastic supporter. She lectured in several countries about Krishnamurti, and spent time at Castle Eerde near Ommen, The Netherlands, which was the European center for the Order.

Clara Codd account

Clara Codd, who studied at Adyar from 1910-1911, wrote that the stimulation of being there often caused residents to become irritable or depressed. "Dr. Mary Rocke, a missionary doctor, who suddenly arrived to visit us, was a victim of the depression wave. She had to leave, but came back later. She had not been a member of the Society for a year, when the Master K.H. put her on probation. A charming Scots lady, normally gentle and sweet, suddenly grew so dictatorial and managing that we all had to laugh! It was so unlike her usual self We used to call such manifestations 'Adyaritis'."

Work with C. W. Leadbeater

in 1917 Dr. Rocke went to Australia to become Charles Webster Leadbeater's personal physician. She also served as a guardian for young Dora van Gelder, who was the only girl at The Manor, where Leadbeater established a small school. Her niece Ruth Roberts joined the group in Sydney "for occult development under Leadbeater's direction."

Order of the Star in the East

During the years in Australia, Dr. Rocke continued to be heavily engaged with the Order of the Star in the East. She served with T. H. Martyn as co-editor of The Star in the East, Australian Division, 1918-1926. A wealthy woman, she established the Balmoral Amphitheatre at Balmoral Beach in Sydney with a £20,000 contribution of her own funds.

World-Mother movement

Following establishment of the OSE and the World Teacher movement, some theosophists adopted a similar model for the World-Mother.

Following Leadbeater's announcements regarding the "World Mother", Dr Rocke became a leading figure in what was known as "The World Mother Movement", and compiled rituals for use in it. During the Star convention at Huizen in 1925, Arundale had announced that Dr Rocke and Lady Emily Lutyens had be consecrated as "Abbesses" to lead the order of women to be established by the World Teacher. Leadbeater offered his help in the development of the rite that had been written by Dr Rocke, and "The Temple of the Motherhood of God" was established. A number of young girls, then resident at The Manor in Sydney, took part in the performance of the ritual, the focus of which was Pallas Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, together with other Greek Goddesses and Mary, Mother of Jesus.

Final years

Dr. Rocke remained in Sydney in her later years, but travelled frequently. When visiting London, she stayed with George Rocke at Ivy Lodge, Hampstead Heath. She visited Hong Kong in 1925, joining other Theosophists like Annie Besant, Max Wardall, Irving S. Cooper, Flora Menzel, Jennie Doulgas, Mr. H. Cassell, Professor H. van Labberton, Professor R. K. Kulkarni to conduct 48 public lectures and 107 meetings. She spent establishing a Star center at the Hong Kong Lodge, giving talks and providing literature about the Order of the Star in the East and the Liberal Catholic Church.

In July 1926, in Amsterdam, she addressed the Medical Week of the Summer School of the International University Association. That year she accepted an appointment from Krishnamurti to take charge of Castle Eerde, world headquarters of the OSE, during the months when he was away. She was to be assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Christie of Scotland, Mr. Arthur Ingleman of Sweden, Miss Dijkgraaf of Holland, Baron Philip von Pallandt, and Miss Susan Ganz of Germany.

in 1927, while travelling to Australia with Annie Besant, the Jinarajadasas, and Jiddu Krishnamurti on the P. & O. liner China, Dr. Rocke fell down a companionway [steep steps], "overcome by an attack of cerebral hemorhage." She died instantaneously. She had been travelling second class, while they were in first class, so they did not hear immediately about her demise. Her body was buried at sea. "A requiem eucharist was celebrated on Sunday [October 23rd] at St. Alban's Liberal Catholic Church, Regent-street, of which she was formerly a member."

Writings

She wrote 21 articles under the name Mary Rocke in several Theosophical magazines, according to the Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals, which also has 5 articles about her.