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[[Category:Presidents of TS Adyar|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:General Secretaries in TS Adyar|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Lecturers|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Nationality British|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Business careers|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Leaders|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Young Theosophists|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Young Theosophists|Coats, John B. S.]]
 
[[File:John B S Coats.jpg|200px|right|thumb|John B. S. Coats]]
== Early years and family life ==
== Early years and family life ==


John Balfour Symington Coats was born on July 8, 2006 in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. He was educated at Eton College in England from 1918 to 1924, and studied the French language in France. He was engaged in the family business for about five years, three of which he spent in Vienna, where he learned German. It was in Vienna that the young man learned of Theosophy through a chance meeting with a stranger. Within the year, he had joined the Society.<ref>Theosophical Society Website [http://www.ts-adyar.org/node/84].</ref>
'''John Balfour Symington Coats''' was born on [[July 8]], 1906 in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. His father, Ernest Coats, a director of the old Paisley firm of thread manufacturers known internationally as J & P Coats. In 1917, Ernest Coats purchased the ancient Sundrum Castle five miles from Ayr.<ref>Sundrum Castle Web page at [http://www.sundrumcastle.com/]</ref> John was educated at Eton College in England from 1918 to 1924, and studied the French language in France.
He was engaged in the family business for about five years, three of which he spent in Vienna, where he learned German. The business manufactured silk and cotton thread and sewing supplies. It was in Vienna that the young man learned of Theosophy through a chance meeting with a stranger. Within the year, he had joined the Society.<ref>Theosophical Society Website [http://www.ts-adyar.org/node/84].</ref>
<br>


On October 31, 1933, he married Elizabeth Ann Horlick, who was always known as Betsan. They lived at Anton-Dolwells, Milverton, Sometset, England,<ref>The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 173.</ref> and had five children, one of whom died very young.
When he returned to London to work at the Stock Exchange, he met his future wife, Elizabeth Ann Horlick,<ref>"Biographical Notes of John B. S. Coats," Theosophical Society in Greece Website, from ''The Theosophist'' (April, 1980). [http://www.theosophicalsociety.gr/english_site/biographies/Coats.html]</ref> who was always known as Betsan. On October 31, 1933, they were married. They lived at Anton-Dolwells, Milverton, Sometset, England.<ref>The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 173.</ref> The couple had five children, one of whom died very young. The surviving children, a girl and three boys, were born in 1937, 1939, 1943, and 1953.<ref>Peerage.com Web page.[http://thepeerage.com/index.htm[</ref>


== Work with youth groups ==
== Work with youth groups ==


Mr. Coats served as President in the Youth Centre, London. Both John and Betsan were active in international activities of the [[Young Theosophists|World Federation of Young Theosophists]]. In 1962, he became head of that organization after Rukmini Devi resigned from the position, and he continued that work until 1974.  
Mr. Coats served as President in the Youth Centre in London. Both John and Betsan were active in international activities of the [[Young Theosophists|World Federation of Young Theosophists]]. In 1962, he became head of that organization after [[Rukmini Devi Arundale]] resigned from the position, and he continued that work until 1974.  


== Theosophical work ==
== Theosophical work ==


In 1935, the President of the Society, George Arundale, asked Mr. Coats to join the headquarters staff at Adyar. The Coats family lived there for four years. During that period, Mr. Coats frequently joined Dr. Arundale and his wife Rukmini Devi in their travels around the world. Mr. Coats was a congenial man who made friends wherever he went, particularly among the young. His knowledge of French and German helped to be a goodwill ambassador for Theosophy.  
In 1935, the President of the Society, [[George S. Arundale]], asked Mr. Coats to join the headquarters staff at Adyar. The Coats family lived there for four years. During that period, Mr. Coats frequently joined Dr. Arundale and his wife Rukmini Devi in their travels around the world. Mr. Coats was a congenial man who made friends wherever he went, particularly among the young. His ability to lecture in French, Spanish, and German helped him to be a goodwill ambassador for Theosophy. As World War II approached, he joined the Oxford Group called Moral Re-Armament, that worked to oppose the rise of Nazism.
<br>


During World War II, Mr. Coats served as General Secretary of the English Section. He had joined the British Army, but after a short time was injured in a motorcycle accident and invalided out. Following the war, from 1946-1948, he and Betsan lectured extensively for the Society for three years, in the US, Canada, Mexico and Cuba. Betsan Coats founded an organization in 1952 called "Wings of Friendship," to help rehabilitate displaced people who were still living in camps across Germany, Austria, Italy and Greece.  
During World War II, Mr. Coats served as General Secretary of the English Section. He had joined the British Army, but after a short time was injured in a motorcycle accident and invalided out. Following the war, from 1946-1948, he and Betsan lectured extensively for the Society for three years, in the US, Canada, Mexico and Cuba, often following completely separate itineraries. Betsan Coats and her husband founded an organization in 1952 called "Wings of Friendship," to help rehabilitate displaced people who were still living in camps across Germany, Austria, Italy and Greece.
<br>


In 1953, Mr. Coats was elected Secretary of the [[European Federation of Theosophical Societies]], an organization of more than twenty national sections. During that period he lectured in numerous lodges. He assumed the chairmanship of the federation in 1959, and held that position until 1968. from<ref>Theosophical Society Website [http://www.ts-adyar.org/node/84].</ref>
In 1953, Mr. Coats was elected Secretary of the [[European Federation of Theosophical Societies]], an organization of more than twenty national sections. During that period he lectured in numerous lodges. He assumed the chairmanship of the federation in 1959, and held that position until 1968. After his experience participating in the [[World Congress of the Theosophical Society (Adyar)|World Theosophical Congress]] in Geneva in 1936, he became the principal organizer of the World Congress at Salzburg, Austria in 1966.<ref>"John B. S. Coats: Biographical Sketch,"''President's Inauguration, 1973 Reports of Speeches''. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973.</ref>  His travels during this period took him to North and South America, Australia, Africa, Israel, and several times to India. At the request of President [[N. Sri Ram]], he organized the World Congress in Salzburg, Austria, which took place in 1966.<ref>Theosophical Society Website [http://www.ts-adyar.org/node/84].</ref> In an autobiographical article, Coats wrote,


  During this period he visited India several times, and also South America, the United States and Australia, and other places, such as Israel and Africa. Twice he organized a charter flight to India for the Adyar Convention. In 1966, Mr Sri Ram asked him to organize the World Congress — the last one had been held 20 years previously in Geneva — in Salzburg, Austria, in which more than a thousand members from all over the world participated.
<blockquote> In 1968, my children having married and gone away, I sold my house in England and set out on  my wanderings on behalf of the Society. I visited South America, the West Indies, Mexico, the U.S.A. and Canada, Honolulu and Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Malaya, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan, India, Ceylon, and Pakistan, East, South and West Africa, Israel and nearly every country in Europe.<ref>"Biographical Notes of John B. S. Coats," Theosophical Society in Greece Website, from ''The Theosophist'' (April, 1980).[http://www.theosophicalsociety.gr/english_site/biographies/Coats.html]</ref></blockquote>


== Liberal Catholic Church ==
== Liberal Catholic Church ==


Coats was a bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church.
Coats was a bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church.
[[File:Coats inauguration.jpg|right|300px|thumb|James Perkins transferring presidential ring to John Coats]]
== Presidency of the Society ==
In 1973, International President [[Nilakanta Sri Ram]] passed away in April. Vice President [[James S. Perkins]] took over temporarily and supervised the electoral process, in which many fine candidates had been nominated: [[Rukmini Devi Arundale]], [[Joy Mills]], [[Radha Burnier]], [[James S. Perkins]], and others.
Mr. Coats traveled extensively in Central and South America that year. He attended the Convention and Summer School of the Argentine Section at the resort town of Embalse de Rio Tercero near Cordoba, along with about 300 people from eight nations, including [[Theosophical Society in America]] President [[Joy Mills]]. Council meetings of the [[Inter-American Theosophical Federation]] held in conjunction with the convention, improved cooperation of members in the Americas in preparation for the [[World Congress of the Theosophical Society (Adyar)|1975 Centenary Congress]] held in New York City. In June, he began touring the United States, lecturing at numerous branches and for a week at each of the four Theosophical camps. He led sessions at the American convention on the theme, "Preparing for Tomorrow."<ref>Joy Mills, "Annual Report of the National President, Year Ending May 31,1973," ''The American Theosophist'' 61.8 (August, 1973), 228.</ref><ref>"Annual Report of the National President, Year Ending May 31,1974" ''The American Theosophist'' 62.8 (August, 1974), 208.</ref>
On November 10th following the election, he assumed the office of the President of the Theosophical Society, cutting short his American tour to return to Adyar. The ceremonial part of the inauguration took place on [[Foundation Day]] a week later, with 500 people gathered in the Headquarters Hall as witnesses.<ref>"Inauguration as New President," ''President's Inauguration, 1973 Reports of Speeches''. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973.</ref>


== Presidency of the Society ==
[[Joy Mills]] became Vice President. His presidency was distinguished by efforts to reach out to the general public. This emphasis on reaching a wide audience was evident in issues of ''The Theosophist'' that he edited. The International Theosophical Youth Centre at Adyar was established during his administration. He died in office on [[December 26]], 1979, which was the opening day of the annual international Convention at Adyar.
 
== Publications ==
 
Mr. Coats frequently wrote articles for Theosophical periodicals. The [[Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals]] lists 192 articles authored by [http://www.austheos.org.au/cgi-bin/ui-csvsearch.pl?search=John+Coats&method=all&header=field4 John Coats].
 
Here are some of his writings.
 
* '''''The Last Quarter of the Century''''', Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1975.
* '''''"What Is a Nucleus of Universal Brotherhood?,"''''' ''The Theosophist'' (April, 1974), available at the [http://www.ts-adyar.org/sites/default/files/pdf/Theosophist/Theosophist%202009/July%202009/Theosophist%20Jul%202009%20Article%20John%20Coats.pdf Theosophical Society Website.]
* '''''Phoenix Rising'''''. Madras, India: Ramanathan, 1978. This was a quarterly publication of the International Theosophical Youth Centre. Mr. Coats served as editor.
 
== Recorded speeches ==


In 1973, following the death of [[Nilakanta Sri Ram]], Mr. Coats assumed the office of the President of the Theosophical Society. His presidency was distinguished by efforts to reach out to the general public. He established the International Theosophical Youth Centre at Adyar.
Several of Mr. Coats' lectures were recorded and are available from [http://www.questbooks.net/author.cfm?authornum=183 Quest Books John Coats page] and from the [http://magicdb.dupagels.lib.il.us/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=5WLBFEiqHr/TO/286050293/60/1182/X  Henry S. Olcott Memorial Library].


== Notes ==
== Notes ==


<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Presidents of TS Adyar|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:General Secretaries in TS Adyar|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:TS Adyar|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Lecturers|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Nationality Scottish|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Business careers|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:Leaders|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[Category:People|Coats, John B. S.]]
[[ru:Коутс Джон]]

Revision as of 00:39, 18 March 2018

John B. S. Coats

Early years and family life

John Balfour Symington Coats was born on July 8, 1906 in Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. His father, Ernest Coats, a director of the old Paisley firm of thread manufacturers known internationally as J & P Coats. In 1917, Ernest Coats purchased the ancient Sundrum Castle five miles from Ayr.[1] John was educated at Eton College in England from 1918 to 1924, and studied the French language in France.

He was engaged in the family business for about five years, three of which he spent in Vienna, where he learned German. The business manufactured silk and cotton thread and sewing supplies. It was in Vienna that the young man learned of Theosophy through a chance meeting with a stranger. Within the year, he had joined the Society.[2]

When he returned to London to work at the Stock Exchange, he met his future wife, Elizabeth Ann Horlick,[3] who was always known as Betsan. On October 31, 1933, they were married. They lived at Anton-Dolwells, Milverton, Sometset, England.[4] The couple had five children, one of whom died very young. The surviving children, a girl and three boys, were born in 1937, 1939, 1943, and 1953.[5]

Work with youth groups

Mr. Coats served as President in the Youth Centre in London. Both John and Betsan were active in international activities of the World Federation of Young Theosophists. In 1962, he became head of that organization after Rukmini Devi Arundale resigned from the position, and he continued that work until 1974.

Theosophical work

In 1935, the President of the Society, George S. Arundale, asked Mr. Coats to join the headquarters staff at Adyar. The Coats family lived there for four years. During that period, Mr. Coats frequently joined Dr. Arundale and his wife Rukmini Devi in their travels around the world. Mr. Coats was a congenial man who made friends wherever he went, particularly among the young. His ability to lecture in French, Spanish, and German helped him to be a goodwill ambassador for Theosophy. As World War II approached, he joined the Oxford Group called Moral Re-Armament, that worked to oppose the rise of Nazism.

During World War II, Mr. Coats served as General Secretary of the English Section. He had joined the British Army, but after a short time was injured in a motorcycle accident and invalided out. Following the war, from 1946-1948, he and Betsan lectured extensively for the Society for three years, in the US, Canada, Mexico and Cuba, often following completely separate itineraries. Betsan Coats and her husband founded an organization in 1952 called "Wings of Friendship," to help rehabilitate displaced people who were still living in camps across Germany, Austria, Italy and Greece.

In 1953, Mr. Coats was elected Secretary of the European Federation of Theosophical Societies, an organization of more than twenty national sections. During that period he lectured in numerous lodges. He assumed the chairmanship of the federation in 1959, and held that position until 1968. After his experience participating in the World Theosophical Congress in Geneva in 1936, he became the principal organizer of the World Congress at Salzburg, Austria in 1966.[6] His travels during this period took him to North and South America, Australia, Africa, Israel, and several times to India. At the request of President N. Sri Ram, he organized the World Congress in Salzburg, Austria, which took place in 1966.[7] In an autobiographical article, Coats wrote,

In 1968, my children having married and gone away, I sold my house in England and set out on my wanderings on behalf of the Society. I visited South America, the West Indies, Mexico, the U.S.A. and Canada, Honolulu and Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Malaya, Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan, India, Ceylon, and Pakistan, East, South and West Africa, Israel and nearly every country in Europe.[8]

Liberal Catholic Church

Coats was a bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church.

James Perkins transferring presidential ring to John Coats

Presidency of the Society

In 1973, International President Nilakanta Sri Ram passed away in April. Vice President James S. Perkins took over temporarily and supervised the electoral process, in which many fine candidates had been nominated: Rukmini Devi Arundale, Joy Mills, Radha Burnier, James S. Perkins, and others.

Mr. Coats traveled extensively in Central and South America that year. He attended the Convention and Summer School of the Argentine Section at the resort town of Embalse de Rio Tercero near Cordoba, along with about 300 people from eight nations, including Theosophical Society in America President Joy Mills. Council meetings of the Inter-American Theosophical Federation held in conjunction with the convention, improved cooperation of members in the Americas in preparation for the 1975 Centenary Congress held in New York City. In June, he began touring the United States, lecturing at numerous branches and for a week at each of the four Theosophical camps. He led sessions at the American convention on the theme, "Preparing for Tomorrow."[9][10]

On November 10th following the election, he assumed the office of the President of the Theosophical Society, cutting short his American tour to return to Adyar. The ceremonial part of the inauguration took place on Foundation Day a week later, with 500 people gathered in the Headquarters Hall as witnesses.[11]

Joy Mills became Vice President. His presidency was distinguished by efforts to reach out to the general public. This emphasis on reaching a wide audience was evident in issues of The Theosophist that he edited. The International Theosophical Youth Centre at Adyar was established during his administration. He died in office on December 26, 1979, which was the opening day of the annual international Convention at Adyar.

Publications

Mr. Coats frequently wrote articles for Theosophical periodicals. The Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals lists 192 articles authored by John Coats.

Here are some of his writings.

  • The Last Quarter of the Century, Adyar, Chennai, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1975.
  • "What Is a Nucleus of Universal Brotherhood?," The Theosophist (April, 1974), available at the Theosophical Society Website.
  • Phoenix Rising. Madras, India: Ramanathan, 1978. This was a quarterly publication of the International Theosophical Youth Centre. Mr. Coats served as editor.

Recorded speeches

Several of Mr. Coats' lectures were recorded and are available from Quest Books John Coats page and from the Henry S. Olcott Memorial Library.

Notes

  1. Sundrum Castle Web page at [1]
  2. Theosophical Society Website [2].
  3. "Biographical Notes of John B. S. Coats," Theosophical Society in Greece Website, from The Theosophist (April, 1980). [3]
  4. The International Theosophical Year Book 1938 (Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1938): 173.
  5. Peerage.com Web page.[http://thepeerage.com/index.htm[
  6. "John B. S. Coats: Biographical Sketch,"President's Inauguration, 1973 Reports of Speeches. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973.
  7. Theosophical Society Website [4].
  8. "Biographical Notes of John B. S. Coats," Theosophical Society in Greece Website, from The Theosophist (April, 1980).[5]
  9. Joy Mills, "Annual Report of the National President, Year Ending May 31,1973," The American Theosophist 61.8 (August, 1973), 228.
  10. "Annual Report of the National President, Year Ending May 31,1974" The American Theosophist 62.8 (August, 1974), 208.
  11. "Inauguration as New President," President's Inauguration, 1973 Reports of Speeches. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1973.