Franz Hartmann

According to Readers Guide to The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett:

Hartmann, Dr. Franz, 1838-1912, native of Bavaria. After serving in the war between Austria and Italy in 1859, he took up the study of medicine and graduated as a physician in 1865. he went to the United States that same year, built up a lucrative practice, and became an American citizen in 1867. Deeply interested in philosophy and the esoteric aspects of the different religions, he traveled about considerably; he lived for a while in Mexico, studying the Indians; later he returned to the United States and explored both Judaism and the Mormon religion. In 1879, he took up a gold and silver mining claim in Colorado. Shortly thereafter he came upon a copy of The Occult World by APS; this led to correspondence with HSO and he was invited to join the headquarters staff at Adyar. He arrived there on December 4, 1883. In February 1884, when the Founders left for Europe, HSO appointed him chairman of the newly created Board of Control to manage the affairs at headquarters during their absence. The "Columb conspiracy" came to a head while he was serving in that capacity, but he remained loyal to the TS and the Founders throughout. Later he published a Report of observations Made During a Nine Months' Stay at the Headquarters of the Theosophical Society, which is said to be unsurpassed historically because of its objectivity and honesty. He is reported to have received at least ten letters from the Mahatmas. In the late 1880's he helped to organize the TS in Germany. One of the most prolific and learned writers in the Theosophical movement, he collaborated with Dr. Robert Froebe of Germany in translating The Secret Doctrine into German; this was published in 1899. See biographical sketch HPB VIII: 439 and D, pp. 596-612; ML index; LBS, pp. 118, 121.

Contact with Mahatma Morya

He had the opportunity to see Mahatma M. in his astral form:

On the evening of December 4, 1883, I arrived at Madras and was kindly received by Mr. G. Muttuswami Chettyar, who conducted me to his carriage, and away we went towards Adyar, situated in a suburb of the city of Madras, about six miles from the landing place of the steamer.

Before retiring to rest, I expressed a desire to see the pictures of the Mahatmas, these mysterious beings, superior to man, of whom I had heard so much, and I was taken upstairs, to see the "shrine" in which those pictures were kept. The pictures represented two men with oriental features and in corresponding dress. The expression of their faces was mild and yet serene.

[Some time later] I [saw] Mahatma [Morya] in his astral form. He appeared to me, accompanied by the astral forms of two chelas. His presence left an exhilarating and elevating influence, which did not fade away until several days after.

Writings

• In the Pronaos.
• Magic White and Black.
• Occult Science in Medicine.

Additional resources

• Franz Hartmann web page