J. M. Peebles

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

James Martin Peebles

Dr. James Martin Peebles (March 23, 1822 – February 15, 1922) was an American physician and spiritualist who was associated with Theosophical Society Founders Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott.

Interest in Spiritualism

Lecture tours to Australia

Dr. Peebles made lecture tours of Australia four times:

in the summer of 1872 Peebles made his first trip to Australia, being the first visiting speaker to deliver a series of lectures at the Temperance Hall and the Prince of Wales Theatre, and attracting large gatherings of up to 3,000 people...

In 1877 Peebles made a second trip to Australia and another in 1897.

His fourth visit was in 1902, when he was already eighty years of age. According to his own account, he delivered a two months' course of lectures in Melbourne; then spoke in Sydney

four times during week upon reform subjects, and three times on each Sunday... in the evening for the Psychic Society. The hall of this society, seating nearly five hundred is altogether too small, and many are turned away every Sunday evening.

He returned to Melbourne for more lectures; then proceeded to Tasmania and New Zealand, where his was "the first course of lectures upon the phenomena and philosophy of Spiritualism ever delivered in this lovely isle of the ocean."

Theosophical Society involvement

Dr. Peebles is thought to have joined the Theosophical Society in 1878 or 1879, but the official Adyar membership records give the date of October 31, 1894. He was then living in San Diego, California.

He traveled to Ceylon, and on his return presented to H. P. Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott a report about the Panadura event in which Sumangala and Mohotiwatta Gunananda debated with Christian missionaries. Reading of the debate led Colonel Olcott and Madame Blavatsky to write to Ceylon and eventually to establish strong relationships with the Buddhist community there.

Dr. Peebles continued to be of interest to Theosophists for many decades. In 1921 it was reported in The Messenger that Dr. Peebles was then 99 years old, living at 1927 Orchard Street in Los Angeles.

Writings

Book cover, 1884.

Dr. Peebles was a prolific and popular writer on Spiritualism, health, and travel. He eventually established hiw own publishing company in Los Angeles.

Periodicals

The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists 15 articles by or about Peebles. He contributed a great number of articles to virtually all the English-language Spiritualist journals, including Light, Harbinger of Light, Golden Gate, The Spiritual Review, The Progressive Thinker, The Spiritualist, The Lyceum Banner, The Occult (Detroit), Light of Truth, The Messenger (La Courriere) and all the ones he edited. His articles have been reprinted posthumously in such titles as The Psychic Observer.

He edited several periodicals:

• 1867 &ndash editor of Universe, which was based in Chicago.
• 1868-1871 – Western Editor of The Banner of Light, and briefly held the position of editor.
• 1870-1872 – co-editor of The American Spiritualist.
• 1910 – Associate Editor of Self-Culture', the journal of the Indian Academy of Science.

Buddhist-Christian Debate

This publication was of great importance to the Theosophical Society Founders, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Henry Steel Olcott.

• Buddhism and Christianity Face to Face, or, an Oral Discussion between the Rev. Migettuwatte, a Buddhist Priest, and Rev. D. Silva, an English Clergyman: Held at Pantura, Ceylon. Boston: Colby and Rich, 1878. Available at Google Books.

Health and medicine

• How to Live a Century and Grow Old Gracefully. New York: M. L. Hollbrook Co., 1884. Available at Hathitrust and Internet Archive. 99 pages.

Spiritualism

• Seers of the Ages or Spiritualism Past & Present. Boston:W. White & Co., 1869. London: J. Burns, 1869. Available at Google Books.
• The Year-Book of Spiritualism for 1871. With Hudson Tuttle. Boston: W. White and Company, 1871. An important synopsis of Spiritualist activity around the world. Subtitle: "presenting the status of spiritualism for the current year throughout the world; philosophical, scientific, and religious essays, review of its literature; history of American associations; state and local societies; progressive lyceums; lecturers; mediums; and other matters relating to the momentous subject."
• Celebration of the Fiftieth Anniversary of Spiritualism, at Its Birthplace. Battle Creek, Michigan: Drs. Peebles & Burroughs, 1898.
• Seers of the Ages: Embracing Spiritualism, Past and Present: Doctrines Stated and Moral Tendencies Defined. Boston: Banner of Light Publishing Co., 1898. 8th edition.

Travel and other topics

• Around the World: Or, Travels in Polynesia, China, India, Arabia, Egypt, Syria, and Other 'Heathen' Countries, Boston: Colby and Rich., 1875. Available at Google Books.
• Three Journeys around the World, or, Travels in the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Ceylon, India, Egypt and Other Oriental Countries. Boston: Banner of Light Publishing Co., 1898.
• Nihilism, Socialism, Shakerism, Which?. Mt. Lebanon, N.Y.: s.n., 1890.

Additional resources

• Barrett, J. O. A Biography of James M. Peebles. Boston: Wm. White & Co, 1872. 303 pages. Several editions. Available at Hathitrust,.* Johnson, K. Paul. "Theosophy in the Bengal Renaissance." Imagining the East The Early Theosophical Society. Edited by Tim Rudbog and Erik Sand. Oxford University Press, 2020.
• Greusel, John Hubert. Dr. James M. Peebles. Los Angeles, Cal., Peebles Publishing Co. [c1911]. Available at Hathitrust.
• Pendleton, Lina. Three Principles of Angelic Wisdom, The Spiritual Psychology of the Grand Spirit Dr. Peebles. CA: Pendleton Artists, 2012.
• Whipple, Edward. A Biography of James M. Peebles. Battle Creek, Mich. [c1901]. 592 pages. Available at Hathitrust.
• "James Martin Peebles" in Wikipedia.

Notes

[[Category:Writers|Peebles, J. M.]