Josephine Ransom

Josephine Ransom was a lecturer and leader in the Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Chennai, India. She was born Josephine Maria Davies on March 22, 1879 in Armidale, Australia.

Lecturing

Mrs. Ransom was much in demand as a lecturer, and toured in Australia, 1912; in India, 1936-1937; and several times in the United States. She presented the Blavatsky Lectures, "The Occult Teachings of the Christ" in 1933 and "The Direction of The Theosophical Society by Masters of Wisdom" in 1942.

Later years

She became International Vice-President, but died before she had been in office long.

Writings

Mrs. Ransom served as editor of Theosophy in Australia from May, 1921 to June, 1927, working in Sydney, Australia. In addition, she wrote numerous articles for Theosophical periodicals, including The Theosophist, The Theosophical Messenger, The Adyar Bulletin, and World Theosophy. The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists 140 articles under the name Josephine Ransom and five under the name J Ransom, although she wrote many more anonymously for Theosophy in Australia.

She also wrote these books and pamphlets, in chronological order:

• Indian Tales of Love and Beauty. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophy Office, 1912.
• Schools of Tomorrow in England. London: G. Bell and Sons, 1919.
• Our Philosophy of Education: [a lecture delivered before the theosophical fraternity in education, February, 1919.]. London: Theosophical Fraternity in Education, 1919. Pamphlet.
• Irish Tales of Love and Beauty London : Arthur H. Stockwell, 1924.
• Madame Blavatsky as Occultist. London: Theosophical Pub. House, 1931.
• Racial problems in South Africa. Adyar, Madras: Theosophical Publ. House, 1932. Pamphlet.
• Occult Teachings of the Christ According to The Secret Doctrine. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Pub. House, 1933.
• Studies in the Secret Doctrine: Studies with Students at Olcott Sessions, Summer, 1932. Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Press, 1934.
• Self-Realization Through Yoga and Mysticism. London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1936.
• A Short History of The Theosophical Society. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Pub. House, 1938.
• The Direction of The Theosophical Society by Masters of Wisdom. London, 1942. Published lecture.
• Years of Grandeur: Memories of Annie Besant. With Sidney Ransom. London: Theosophical Publishing House, 1949.
• The Key to Theosophy by H. P. Blavatsky. London: Theosophical Pub. House, 1948. Abridged and edited by Josephine Ransom.
• The Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Book of the Theosophical Society: a Short History of the Society's Growth from 1926-1950. Adyar, India: Theosopohical Pub. House,, 1950.
• Om Meditation. Stockholm: Sv. teosof. bokförl., Högfeldt), 1964. Pamphlet. Swedish translation.