A. Trevor Barker: Difference between revisions

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In 1930 he joins the [[Theosophical Society (Pasadena)]], becaming the President of its English Section for many 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.
In 1930 he joins the [[Theosophical Society (Pasadena)]], becaming the President of its English Section for many 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.
Dr. Barker married Virginia (also a Theosophist) with whom had children.


Dr. Barker died 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 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:

Revision as of 18:59, 20 July 2012

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 and The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett.

Bio-data

A. Trevor Barker was born at Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

He joined the Theosophical Society (Adyar), but remained a member of this organization for only two years. During this time Dr. Barker transcribed and published The Mahatma letters to A. P. Sinnett. A few years later, in 1926, he published The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett.

In 1930 he joins the Theosophical Society (Pasadena), becaming the President of its English Section for many 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 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.

Dr. Barker died 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:

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 otehr Lodges of the Adyar T. S. in England. [2]

The Mahatma Letters

A. P. Sinnett, recipient of many letters from the Mahatmas 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,

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.[3]

In 1923 he published in London 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.

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.[4]

Other writings

Dr. Trevor Barker's writings and lectures have been compiled in a book entitled 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.

Notes

  1. "In Memoriam." The Hill of Discernment. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.
  2. "Compilers' Preface." The Hill of Discernment. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.
  3. Grace Knoche, "Foreword to the Combined Chronology of Margaret Conger," [1]
  4. "In Memoriam." The Hill of Discernment. Point Loma, Calif.:Theosophical University Press, 1941.

Additional resources

These books are available online:

  • The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett. Theosophical University Press.[2]
  • The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett. Theosophical University Press. [3]
  • The Hill of Discernment. Theosophical University Press.[4]