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[[File:Trevor Barker.jpg|150px|right|thumb|A. Trevor Barker, from frontispiece of ''The Hill of Discernment'', 1941.]]
[[File:Trevor Barker.jpg|200px|right|thumb|A. Trevor Barker, from frontispiece of ''The Hill of Discernment'', 1941.]]
'''Alfred Trevor Barker''' (b. October 10, 1893- d. July 17, 1941) was a [[Theosophist]], writer, and lecturer. He is well-known in the Theosophical world for his publication of the [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']] and [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']].
'''Alfred Trevor Barker''' (b. October 10, 1893- d. July 17, 1941) was a [[Theosophist]], writer, and lecturer. He is well-known in the Theosophical world for his transcription, compilation and publication of the [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']] and [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']].


== Bio-data ==
== Biographical information ==


A. Trevor Barker was born at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, on [[October 10]], 1893.
A. Trevor Barker was born at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, on [[October 10]], 1893. He married Virginia, also an active Theosophist, with whom he had four children.


He joined the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)]], but resigned from this organization in 1925. During this time Dr. Barker transcribed and published [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma letters to A. P. Sinnett'']]. In 1926, he published [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']].
Dr. Barker joined the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)]], but resigned from this organization in 1925. During this time he transcribed and published [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']]. In 1926, he published [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']].


On [[July 30]], 1930, he joins the [[Theosophical Society (Pasadena)]], soon becoming the President of its English Section for a number of years.<ref>"In Memoriam." ''The Hill of Discernment''. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.</ref> It was Dr. Barker who suggested London as the place to hold the commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of [[H. P. Blavatsky]]'s birth that [[G. de Purucker]] was planning. On June 24, 1931, Dr. Barker chaired the Centennial Conference, which was well attended by leading representatives of the principal Theosophical Societies.
On [[July 30]], 1930, he joined the [[Theosophical Society (Pasadena)]], soon becoming the President of its English Section for a number of years.<ref>"In Memoriam." ''The Hill of Discernment''. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.</ref> It was Dr. Barker who suggested London as the place to hold the commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of [[H. P. Blavatsky]]'s birth that [[Gottfried de Purucker]] was planning. On [[June 24]], 1931, Dr. Barker chaired the Centennial Conference, which was well attended by leading representatives of the principal Theosophical Societies.


Dr. Barker was also editor of ''The English Theosophical Forum'' and instrumental for the edition of ''The Complete Works of H. P. Blavatsky'' begun by Rider & Company of London, in 1932
Dr. Barker was also editor of ''The English Theosophical Forum'' and instrumental for the edition of ''The Complete Works of H. P. Blavatsky'' begun by Rider & Company of London, in 1932.


By 1937 Dr. Barker's health was in a deteriorating condition. Mrs. Elsie Benjamin, secretary to Dr. de Purucker, who met Barker at the time, wrote:
By 1937 Dr. Barker's health was in a deteriorating condition. Mrs. Elsie Benjamin, secretary to Dr. de Purucker, met Barker at the time. She wrote:


<blockquote>All during that time Trevor was a very ill man, and his illness particularly taking the form of deep depression and excessive fatigue. . . .<ref>Michael Gomes, ''The Canadian Theosophist'', Vol. 68 No. 5 (Nov.-Dec., 1987), 117.</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>All during that time Trevor was a very ill man, and his illness particularly taking the form of deep depression and excessive fatigue. . . .<ref>Michael Gomes, ''The Canadian Theosophist'', Vol. 68 No. 5 (Nov.-Dec., 1987), 117.</ref></blockquote>
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Owing to the very trying circumstances in England, Mrs. Virginia Barker and the four children left the country in the fall of 1940 and went to the USA, to the state of Washington.<ref>Anon., ''In Memoriam--A. Trevor Barker, Vol 19 No. 3 (Sep. 1941), p. 222</ref>
Owing to the very trying circumstances in England, Mrs. Virginia Barker and the four children left the country in the fall of 1940 and went to the USA, to the state of Washington.<ref>Anon., ''In Memoriam--A. Trevor Barker, Vol 19 No. 3 (Sep. 1941), p. 222</ref>


Dr. Barker died after a very brief illness on [[July 17]], 1941, in Torquay, Devon, England. His writings were compiled into the book ''The Hill of Discernment'' by [[Gottfried de Purucker]]. In the preface of that book he wrote:
Dr. Barker died after a very brief illness on [[July 17]], 1941, in Torquay, Devon, England. His lectures and some writings were compiled into the book ''The Hill of Discernment'' by [[Gottfried de Purucker]], who wrote in the preface:


<blockquote>With the death of A. Trevor Barker on July 17th of this year, the spontaneous wish was expressed by his many friends all over the world that his lectures and writings might be gathered together for publication in some permanent form. The present work, THE HILL OF DISCERNMENT, is an answer to this widespread desire. It contains in large part all the available addresses given in various parts of England, mainly to Theosophical groups and lodges, to European Conventions of the Theosophical Society, and to various 'fraternization' meetings with the Phoenix Lodge and other Lodges of the Adyar T. S. in England.
<blockquote>With the death of A. Trevor Barker on July 17th of this year, the spontaneous wish was expressed by his many friends all over the world that his lectures and writings might be gathered together for publication in some permanent form. The present work, THE HILL OF DISCERNMENT, is an answer to this widespread desire. It contains in large part all the available addresses given in various parts of England, mainly to Theosophical groups and lodges, to European Conventions of the Theosophical Society, and to various 'fraternization' meetings with the Phoenix Lodge and other Lodges of the Adyar T. S. in England.
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== The Mahatma Letters ==
== The Mahatma Letters ==


Barker's most important contribution was the transcription, compilation, and publication of the ''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett''. [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|Mr. Sinnett]], recipient of many letters from the Masters known as [[Koot Hoomi]] and [[Morya]], had died in 1921. His correspondence with the Mahatmas and with [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] passed on to Maud Hoffman, executrix of the estate of Mr. Sinnett. Dr. Barker contacted her and obtained her permission and support to transcribe these letters and publish them in book form. [[Grace Knoche]] wrote,
Barker's most important contribution was the transcription, compilation, and publication of the ''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett''. [[Alfred Percy Sinnett|Mr. Sinnett]], recipient of many letters from the Masters known as [[Koot Hoomi]] and [[Morya]], had died in 1921. His correspondence with the Mahatmas and with [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]] passed on to Maud Hoffman, who had tended him with a daughter's devotion during his last illness.<ref>James Moore, ''Theosophical History'' Vol.3 No. 3, (July 1990), 77.</ref>
 
It is not clear how Dr. Barker started working on this project. [[Grace Knoche]] wrote:


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
Just what prompted Trevor Barker to contact Maud Hoffman, executrix of the estate of the late [[A. P. Sinnett]] who had died in 1921, is not known. It is of record that the Mahatma as well as the Blavatsky letters had been bequeathed by Mr. Sinnett "solely and unconditionally" to Miss Hoffman, and that she in turn had allowed this young man the "great privilege of undertaking the whole responsibility" for their transcription and publication in book form.<ref>Grace Knoche, "Foreword to the Combined Chronology of Margaret Conger," [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-ccfor.htm]</ref>
Just what prompted Trevor Barker to contact [[Maud Hoffman]], executrix of the estate of the late [[A. P. Sinnett]] who had died in 1921, is not known. It is of record that the Mahatma as well as the Blavatsky letters had been bequeathed by Mr. Sinnett "solely and unconditionally" to Miss Hoffman, and that she in turn had allowed this young man the "great privilege of undertaking the whole responsibility" for their transcription and publication in book form.<ref>Grace Knoche, "Foreword to the Combined Chronology of Margaret Conger," [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-ccfor.htm]</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


In 1923 he published in London [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma letters to A. P. Sinnett from the Mahatmas M. & K. H.'']] through T. F. Unwin ltd. In 1926 he published [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']].
It is on record that Dr. Barker and Maud Hoffman were co-students of [[P. D. Ouspensky]] in 1921,<ref>James Moore, ''Theosophical History'' Vol.3 No. 3, (July 1990), 78.</ref> which could explain how he obtained her permission and support to transcribe these letters and publish them in book form.
 
Dr. Barker published [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma letters to A. P. Sinnett from the Mahatmas M. & K. H.'']] through T. F. Unwin Ltd. in London, in 1923. Three years later he published [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']].
 
One of Trevor's last actions was arranging for the depositing of the originals of the ''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' in the British Museum, in the Department of Select Manuscripts.<ref>"In Memoriam." ''The Hill of Discernment''. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.</ref>
 
== Writings and Lectures ==
 
Dr. Trevor Barker's writings and lectures have been compiled in  [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hill/hill-7.htm# ''The Hill of Discernment''], published by The Theosophical University Press. This book provides [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hill/hill-7.htm#memorandum information] as to where and when the various lectures contained in that volume were given.
 
== Connection with Gurdjieff's teachings ==


One of Trevor's last actions was arranging for the depositing of the MSS. the ''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'' in the British Museum, in the Department of Select Manuscripts.<ref>"In Memoriam." ''The Hill of Discernment''. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.</ref>
A. P. Sinnett's legatee, Maud Hoffman, and Dr. Barker knew each other by 1921. According to James Moore they both became pupils of [[P. D. Ouspensky]] at 38 Warwick Gardens, Kensington, during the autumn of that year. In the autumn of 1922 they became residential pupils at [[G. I. Gurdjieff|Gurdjieff's]] ''Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man'', at Fontainebleau-Avon. There, Dr. Barker was part of a small group that included Ouspensky's and Gurdjieff's wives.<ref>James Moore, ''Theosophical History'' Vol.3 No. 3, (July 1990), 78.</ref>


== Other writings ==
== Writings ==


Dr. Trevor Barker's writings and lectures have been compiled in a book entitled [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hill/hill-7.htm# ''The Hill of Discernment''], published by The Theosophical University Press. This book provides [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hill/hill-7.htm#memorandum information] as to where and when the various lectures contained in that volume were given.
* '''''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'''''. Available at [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-hp.htm Theosophical University Press.]
* '''''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'''''. London: T. Fisher Unwin Ltd., 1925. Available at [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hpb-aps/bl-hp.htm Theosophical University Press.]
* '''''The Hill of Discernment'''''. Available at [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hill/hill-hp.htm Theosophical University Press.]
* '''''The Place of Devotion in the Light of Discipleship'''''.
* '''''The Occult Law of Correspondence and Analogy'''''. Pamphlet.
* '''''The Psychology of Chelaship'''''.
* '''''The Creative Power of Thought'''''.
* '''''Spiritual Gifts and Their Attainment'''''.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
<references/>
<references/>
== For Further Information ==
These books are available online:
* ''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett''. Theosophical University Press.[http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/mahatma/ml-hp.htm]
* ''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett''. Theosophical University Press. [http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hpb-aps/bl-hp.htm]
* ''The Hill of Discernment''. Theosophical University Press.[http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hill/hill-hp.htm]


[[Category:Writers|Barker, A. Trevor]]
[[Category:Writers|Barker, A. Trevor]]
[[Category:Editors|Barker, A. Trevor]]
[[Category:Editors|Barker, A. Trevor]]
[[Category:Nationality English|Barker, A. Trevor]]
[[Category:Nationality English|Barker, A. Trevor]]
[[Category:People|Barker, A. Trevor]]

Revision as of 19:49, 10 July 2019

A. Trevor Barker, from frontispiece of The Hill of Discernment, 1941.

Alfred Trevor Barker (b. October 10, 1893- d. July 17, 1941) was a Theosophist, writer, and lecturer. He is well-known in the Theosophical world for his transcription, compilation and publication of the The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett and The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett.

Biographical information

A. Trevor Barker was born at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, on October 10, 1893. He married Virginia, also an active Theosophist, with whom he had four children.

Dr. Barker joined the Theosophical Society (Adyar), but resigned from this organization in 1925. During this time he transcribed and published The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett. In 1926, he published The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett.

On July 30, 1930, he joined the Theosophical Society (Pasadena), soon becoming the President of its English Section for a number of years.[1] It was Dr. Barker who suggested London as the place to hold the commemoration of the hundredth anniversary of H. P. Blavatsky's birth that Gottfried de Purucker was planning. On June 24, 1931, Dr. Barker chaired the Centennial Conference, which was well attended by leading representatives of the principal Theosophical Societies.

Dr. Barker was also editor of The English Theosophical Forum and instrumental for the edition of The Complete Works of H. P. Blavatsky begun by Rider & Company of London, in 1932.

By 1937 Dr. Barker's health was in a deteriorating condition. Mrs. Elsie Benjamin, secretary to Dr. de Purucker, met Barker at the time. She wrote:

All during that time Trevor was a very ill man, and his illness particularly taking the form of deep depression and excessive fatigue. . . .[2]

Owing to the very trying circumstances in England, Mrs. Virginia Barker and the four children left the country in the fall of 1940 and went to the USA, to the state of Washington.[3]

Dr. Barker died after a very brief illness on July 17, 1941, in Torquay, Devon, England. His lectures and some writings were compiled into the book The Hill of Discernment by Gottfried de Purucker, who wrote in the preface:

With the death of A. Trevor Barker on July 17th of this year, the spontaneous wish was expressed by his many friends all over the world that his lectures and writings might be gathered together for publication in some permanent form. The present work, THE HILL OF DISCERNMENT, is an answer to this widespread desire. It contains in large part all the available addresses given in various parts of England, mainly to Theosophical groups and lodges, to European Conventions of the Theosophical Society, and to various 'fraternization' meetings with the Phoenix Lodge and other Lodges of the Adyar T. S. in England. [4]

The Mahatma Letters

Barker's most important contribution was the transcription, compilation, and publication of the The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett. Mr. Sinnett, recipient of many letters from the Masters known as Koot Hoomi and Morya, had died in 1921. His correspondence with the Mahatmas and with Helena Petrovna Blavatsky passed on to Maud Hoffman, who had tended him with a daughter's devotion during his last illness.[5]

It is not clear how Dr. Barker started working on this project. Grace Knoche wrote:

Just what prompted Trevor Barker to contact Maud Hoffman, executrix of the estate of the late A. P. Sinnett who had died in 1921, is not known. It is of record that the Mahatma as well as the Blavatsky letters had been bequeathed by Mr. Sinnett "solely and unconditionally" to Miss Hoffman, and that she in turn had allowed this young man the "great privilege of undertaking the whole responsibility" for their transcription and publication in book form.[6]

It is on record that Dr. Barker and Maud Hoffman were co-students of P. D. Ouspensky in 1921,[7] which could explain how he obtained her permission and support to transcribe these letters and publish them in book form.

Dr. Barker published The Mahatma letters to A. P. Sinnett from the Mahatmas M. & K. H. through T. F. Unwin Ltd. in London, in 1923. Three years later he published The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett.

One of Trevor's last actions was arranging for the depositing of the originals of the The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett in the British Museum, in the Department of Select Manuscripts.[8]

Writings and Lectures

Dr. Trevor Barker's writings and lectures have been compiled in The Hill of Discernment, published by The Theosophical University Press. This book provides information as to where and when the various lectures contained in that volume were given.

Connection with Gurdjieff's teachings

A. P. Sinnett's legatee, Maud Hoffman, and Dr. Barker knew each other by 1921. According to James Moore they both became pupils of P. D. Ouspensky at 38 Warwick Gardens, Kensington, during the autumn of that year. In the autumn of 1922 they became residential pupils at Gurdjieff's Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man, at Fontainebleau-Avon. There, Dr. Barker was part of a small group that included Ouspensky's and Gurdjieff's wives.[9]

Writings

  • The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett. Available at Theosophical University Press.
  • The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett. London: T. Fisher Unwin Ltd., 1925. Available at Theosophical University Press.
  • The Hill of Discernment. Available at Theosophical University Press.
  • The Place of Devotion in the Light of Discipleship.
  • The Occult Law of Correspondence and Analogy. Pamphlet.
  • The Psychology of Chelaship.
  • The Creative Power of Thought.
  • Spiritual Gifts and Their Attainment.

Notes

  1. "In Memoriam." The Hill of Discernment. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.
  2. Michael Gomes, The Canadian Theosophist, Vol. 68 No. 5 (Nov.-Dec., 1987), 117.
  3. Anon., In Memoriam--A. Trevor Barker, Vol 19 No. 3 (Sep. 1941), p. 222
  4. "Compilers' Preface." The Hill of Discernment. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.
  5. James Moore, Theosophical History Vol.3 No. 3, (July 1990), 77.
  6. Grace Knoche, "Foreword to the Combined Chronology of Margaret Conger," [1]
  7. James Moore, Theosophical History Vol.3 No. 3, (July 1990), 78.
  8. "In Memoriam." The Hill of Discernment. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.
  9. James Moore, Theosophical History Vol.3 No. 3, (July 1990), 78.