Emily Kislingbury
Emily Kislingbury (ca. 1866 - ?) was a Spiritualist and one of the founders of the British Theosophical Society, the first official lodge of the Theosophical Society.
Theosophical involvement
In February, 1877, Miss Kislingbury joined the Theosophical Society. At the time, she was the secretary of the British National Association of Spiritualists of London. In August of that year she went to the U.S.A. on a holiday, and wrote a letter to H. S. Olcott from Niagara Falls to announce her arrival in New York and her desire to meet the Founders. When Col. Olcott opened the letter he found at the bottom of the last page a precipitated message from Master Narayan saying:
She is a sweet, truthful, sincere nature. Would to heavenly powers there were a few more like her in London. Teach her and take care of her.
[Signature in unknown script]
Tell her I was several times with her at the Hdqrs.[1]
"Headquarters" evidently refers to the offices of the Spiritualist Association, in London.
During her stay with the Founders she witnessed several phenomena performed by Mme. Blavatsky. After returning to London, in a speech she gave describing the phenomena, Miss Kislingbury talked about her friendship with HPB: "a friendship to last I hope for life and for ever, with the being called Madame Blavatsky".
On December 11, 1877, she met in London with C. C. Massey, W. S. Moses, and J. S. Cobb, to read Col. Olcott's instructions concerning the formation of a Branch. On June 27, 1878, the British Theosophical Society had its first meeting and Miss Kislingbury is chosen as Secretary.
In May 1878, Mme. Blavatsky wrote in a letter to Hurrychund Chintamon:
Another brave loyal heart is Miss Emily Kislingbury, secretary, guiding spirit and in fact soul of the B.N.A. of Spts. She has courage enough to make herself a heroine, and her motives and character are as pure as gold. But, like most women her emotional nature calls for a proof to lean upon; and for lack of that (since we all repudiate mediumship) she feels as though she would turn to the Xn church for support.[2]
In the month of May, 1886, she visited Mme. Blavatsky at Wurzburg.
She was a member of HPB's Inner Group, formed in August, 1890 in London.
Miss Emily Kislingbury was faithful HPB to the end.
Writings
Miss Kislingbury wrote many articles for Theosophical journals, according to the Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals. There are 33 articles under the name Kislingbury, and those signed as EK may be hers as well.
Online resources
Articles
- The Mystic Side of Christianity by Emily Kislingbury
- Spiritualism In Its Relation to Theosophy by Emily Kislingbury