José Xifré
Don José Xifré was born in 1856 in the north of Spain. According to the Theosophical Yearbook, he was educated with King Alfonso XII, who claimed him as his "disinterested friend." On August 22, 1889 he became a Fellow of the Theosophical Society. He was a personal pupil of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, and close friend of Colonel Olcott.
He was at the center of an example of Blavatsky's clairvoyant ability. He was visiting London to see Blavatsky and came one day to take his leave, but she, with great emphasis, told him that he was not to leave that day. In spite of his protestations regarding firm commitments, she insisted that he defer his departure which he did. The next day the newspaper contained an account of a fearful accident involving the mail train by which he would have been traveling.[1]
A nobleman and scholar, he devoted his life and wealth to the spread of Theosophy in Spain.[2] During the years 1889-1920, he was the Presidential Agent for the Society in Spain. His Spanish translation of her work The Secret Doctrine was published in 1895-98, but almost every copy was destroyed by the Roman Catholic Church.[3] Don José was President of the Madrid Lodge until his death in October 1920, and financed the publication of Sophia for 21 years. It is still being published.
In 1905, he financed the Vasantapuram gateway at the Adyar headquarters of the Society.[4]
Notes
- ↑ "Xifré, José," Theosophical Encyclopedia (Quezon City, The Philippines: Theosophical Publishing House, 2006),681.
- ↑ The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 223.
- ↑ Boris de Zirkoff letter to Willamay Pym. January 1, 1979. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.
- ↑ The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 223.