John B. S. Coats
Early years and family life
John Balfour Symington Coats was born on July 8, 2006 in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. He was educated at Eton College in England from 1918 to 1924, and studied the French language in France. He was engaged in the family business for about five years, three of which he spent in Vienna, where he learned German. It was in Vienna that the young man learned of Theosophy through a chance meeting with a stranger. Within the year, he had joined the Society.[1]
On October 31, 1933, he married Elizabeth Ann Horlick, who was always known as Betsan. They lived at Anton-Dolwells, Milverton, Sometset, England,[2] and had five children, one of whom died very young.
Work with youth groups
Mr. Coats served as President in the Youth Centre, London. Both John and Betsan were active in international activities of the World Federation of Young Theosophists.
Theosophical work
In 1935, the President of the Society, George Arundale, asked Mr. Coats to join the headquarters staff at Adyar. The Coats family lived there for four years. During that period, Mr. Coats frequently joined Dr. Arundale and his wife Rukmini Devi in their travels around the world. Mr. Coats was a congenial man who made friends wherever he went, particularly among the young. His knowledge of French and German helped to be a goodwill ambassador for Theosophy.
During World War II, Mr. Coats served as General Secretary of the English Section. He had joined the British Army, but after a short time was injured in a motorcycle accident and invalided out. Following the war, from 1946-1948, he and Betsan lectured extensively for the Society for three years, in the US, Canada, Mexico and Cuba. Betsan Coats founded an organization in 1952 called "Wings of Friendship," to help rehabilitate displaced people who were still living in camps across Germany, Austria, Italy and Greece.
In 1953, Mr. Coats was elected Secretary of the European Federation of Theosophical Societies, an organization of more than twenty national sections. During that period he lectured in numerous lodges.[3]
Liberal Catholic Church
Coats was a bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church.
Presidency of the Society
In 1973, following the death of Nilakanta Sri Ram, Mr. Coats assumed the office of the President of the Theosophical Society. His presidency was distinguished by efforts to reach out to the general public. He established the International Theosophical Youth Centre at Adyar.