H. D. Monachesi
Herbert D. Monachesi (ca. 1854 - February 27, 1900) was a military officer and New York journalist and one of the Founders of the Theosophical Society. He died in Manhattan County, NY at 46 years old.[1]
Personal life and military service
Facts about the life of H. D. Monachesi are elusive. He is not recorded in the United States Census, and only rarely elsewhere. Military records indicate that he was from Philadelphia.
In New York City, Monachesi worked initially as a clerk, but by 1872 had a position as an editor. The newspaper is no where named, but a New York City Directory lists him working at 32 Cedar, and that was the office of the New York Daily Bulletin.[2] In 1879 he was named as a co-defendant in a lawsuit against Charles D. Keep, who that year had founded the Wall Street News, [3] in what seems to be a war of words between rival newspapers.[4]
In 1876 he edited a book with Albert B. Yohn entitled The Stationers' Handbook. A Practical Business Guide, with articles intended to help the book selling business.[5]
An 1882 report of his activities states:
Mr. Herbert D. Monachesi, F.T.S., an officer of the United States' War-ship "Galena" wrote on June 20th from Alexandria, that he had been enjoying a cruise along both shores of the Mediterranean and down the west coast of Africa, as far as the Equator. The "Galena" was at Alexandria to look after American interests. "Many of these refuges" writes he--referring to the foreigners who had fled from Alexandria--"came on board of us for protection, among them, five American missionaries with their families...."[6]
In 1889, at the age of 40, he was a "ship's writer" or clerk on the sloop USS Kearsarge, a ship that had seen service in the American Civil War, and then briefly on the Jamestown. His work dealt with the many record-keeping tasks of the ship, such as drawing up the watch and station bill (ship's duty roster), various log books, and captain's correspondence. His naval "rate" or grade was "Lds." or "Landsman," a low rank.[7] Monachesi manifested symptoms of "epilepsia" with confusion, headache, and vision problems. In work "exhibited singular errors, exciting suspicion as to the integrity of his mind. He is believed to be an alcoholic subject, but with no direct evidence of such condition." Following a medical examination, he was transferred on May 14 to the naval hospital at Chelsea, Massachusetts for treatment and discharge from service.[8]
Theosophical Society involvement
According to Theosophical historian Josephine Ransom,
HERBERT D. MONACHESI: a newspaper reporter. An Italian by birth and of very psychical temperament. In The Sunday Mercury, New York, 1875, appeared an article by him on an intended Buddhist Mission to America, to make known Eastern spiritual knowledge. On the margin of this cutting Scrapbook I, H. P. B. wrote that his article outlined the original programme of The Theosophical Society, and that the time had come when the West should know more of the wisdom, philosophy and achievements of India. Monachesi dropped out.[9]
Monachesi was present for the creation of Baron de Palm, a major event in the early years of the Theosophical Society.[10]
Notes
- ↑ See Herbert D Monachesi at AncientFaces.com
- ↑ New York, New York, City Directory, 1872.
- ↑ Annotated Catalogue of Newspaper Files in the Library of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. 1911.
- ↑ "Cowards. Liar, Sneak, and Attempted Blackmailer." The Wall Street Daily News 2.11 (August 13, 1879), 1.
- ↑ See here an advertisement of the book.
- ↑ Supplement to The Theosophist (August, 1882), 6.
- ↑ Chelsea, Massachusetts, Navy General Register of Patients, 1872-1917. May 17, 1889.
- ↑ 1889 U.S., Naval Hospital Tickets and Case Papers, 1825-1889. May 14, 1889.
- ↑ Josephine Ransom, A Short History of the Theosophical Society (Adyar, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 113.
- ↑ "A Theosophical Funeral - the Baron De Palm to be Buried According to Egyptian Rites" New York Herald (May 27, 1876), 5.