Robert Crosbie

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ARTICLE UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Robert Crosbie was an influential early Theosophist who founded and led the United Lodge of Theosophists.

Personal life

Crosbie was born in Montreal, Lower Canada on 10 January 1849.

Theosophical activities

Mr. Crosbie was admitted as a member of the Theosophical Society on February 26, 1888.

In 1908 he published a letter, To all open-minded Theosophists, about his thoughts on the Theosophical Society. On February 1909 he founded the ULT in Los Angeles. The organization had no presidents or hierarchical structures. Emphasizing the universality of theosophy, the Declaration of the United Lodge of Theosophists states in part:

"It regards as Theosophists all who are engaged in the true service of Humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, condition or organization,(...)"

Much of the wording of the ULT Declaration is directly derived from statements found in the writings of William Q. Judge and H.P. Blavatsky. The expressed mission statement of the United Lodge of Theosophists is “To spread broadcast the original teachings of Theosophy as recorded in the writings of H.P. Blavatsky and William Q. Judge.”

In 1912 Crosbie first published the theosophical magazine "Theosophy". He also founded Theosophy School. In 1916 two new lodges of the ULT were opened in San Francisco and Berkeley, California. The ULT exists to this day, as an international association with lodges and study groups presently in 16 nations around the world.

Writings

• Answers to Questions on The Ocean of Theosophy. Los Angeles: The Theosophy Company, 1974.
• The Friendly Philosopher. Los Angeles: The Theosophy Company, 1923.

Additional resources

• Crosbie, Robert, "Transcript of Autobiographical Notes" at HelenaBlavatsky.org.
• "Robert Crosbie" in Wikipedia.
• Crosbie, Robert in Theosophy World.
• TenBroeck, Dallas, "Robert Crosbie - The Friendly Philosopher" at KatinkaHesselink.net.
• "Robert Crosbie: The Friendly Philosopher" in BlavatskyTheosophy.com. Reprinted from Theosophy in December 1934.