William Loftus Hare
William Loftus Hare (1868-1943) was an early Theosophist and writer. He is best known as co-author with his brother Harald Edward Hare of the controversial book Who Wrote the Mahatma Letters.
The brothers were twins, born in the St. Pancras parish of London in the second quarter of 1868.[1] Their older brother Thomas owned an engraving works, and as young men they lived with Thomas and his wife.[2] In 1911, William and Harald were living in Middlesex, London, evidently unmarried. William was a "colour printer" and photo engraver and Harald was an artist.[3] William became involved with the Quaker community at Derby and participated in London Annual Meeting. As editor of the Socialist Quaker Society journal Ploughshare It was to be as editor of the SQS journal The Ploughshare (1912-19) that Hare "began to disseminate his wide interests in world faiths."[4] He was a founder of The Society for Promoting the Studies of Religions,and became editor of the Religion journal from 1930 to 1935.
Writings
In addition to edition the journal Ploughshare, Hare wrote several books.
- Who Wrote the Mahatma Letters: The First Thorough Examination of the Communications Alleged to Have Been Received by the Late A.P. Sinnett from Tibetan Mahatmas. London, England: Williams & Norgate, 1936. 326 pages.
- Watts: 1817-1904. London T.C. & E.C. Jack, and New York: W. A. Stokes Co, 1910. A biography of George Frederick Watts. A note says "Masterpieces in Colour, edited by T. Leman Hare" [Thomas Hare] and the title page emphasizes "Illustrated with eight reproductions in colour." Available at Internet Archive.
- Mysticism of East and West. 1927.