Edward Wimbridge
Edward Wimbridge was an Englishman who became an early member of the Theosophical Society.
Personal life
Little is known of the life of Edward Wimbridge. He used the letters "G.R.I.B.A." after his name[1], and this indicates "Graduate of the Royal Institute of British Architects."
Theosophical Society involvement
Wimbridge was admitted to the Theosophical Society in 1876 or early 1877, making him one of the first people to join the Society. His residence in 1877 was listed as 1 Union Square, New York City. [2] He accompanied the Founders to India in 1879, along with Rosa Bates. Henry Steel Olcott wrote in his diary entry on July 31, 1879 that Mr. Wimbridge designed the cover and engraved the heading for The Theosophist. For a brief time, he was a member of the General Council of the Theosophical Society.[3]
Additional details about Wimbridge were published in a circular letter of September 7, 1880, addressed to "Theosophists and Arya Samajists" by Henry S. Olcott and H. P. Blavatsky, which was printed in the Indian periodical The Vivekavarthani at the urging of Damodar K. Mavalankar. In it the Founders stated that Bates and Wimbridge had become members a few weeks before sailing for India. The two did not assist in establishing the Society in India, and did not sympathize with the Founders' activities. Wimbridge was occupied in establishing a private business at Bombay. Rosa Bates got into a rather public quarrel with another woman and was eventually expelled from the Society. Wimbridge resigned in her support.[4] NOTE: The timing in this account is slightly contradicted by the Membership Register of the Society, which shows that Wimbridge was admitted as a member in 1877.
Notes
- ↑ "The Theosophical Society," The Theosophist 1.8 (May, 1880), 214.
- ↑ Theosophical Society General Membership Register, 1875-1942 at http://tsmembers.org/. See book 1, entry 133 (website file: 1A/13).
- ↑ "The Theosophical Society," The Theosophist 1.8 (May, 1880), 214.
- ↑ Henry S. Olcott and H. P. Blavatsky circular letter to Theosophists and Arya Samajists. September 7,1880. Published in The Vivekavarthani pages 159-160. Photostat of article is in Sidney Cook correspondence. Boris de Zirkoff Papers. Records Series 22. Theosophical Society in America Archives.