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'''Lotus Circles''' were a form of Theosophical Sunday School in the early 1890s. The term was used by [[American Section|American Section of the Theosophical Society]] from 1891 to 1885, then by the [[Theosophical Society in America (Judge)|Theosophical Society in America]] of [[William Quan Judge]] and its successor, the [[Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society]].
'''UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''<br>
'''UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''<br>


The first Lotus Circle was established at the [[Aryan Theosophical Society]] of New York. At the 1897 convention, the membership of the Theosophical Society decided establish the Lotus Circles as a separate organization under the [[International Brotherhood League]] or IBL, changing the name to Lotus Groups. "By 1899, according to [[Elizabeth Mayer Spalding|[Elizabeth] Spalding]], between thirty-two hundred and forty-six hundred children participated in Lotus Groups Nationwide.<ref>W. Michael Ashcraft, ''The Dawn of the New Cycle: Point Loma Theosophists and American Culture'' (Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press, 2002), 91.</ref>
'''Lotus Circles''' were a form of Theosophical "Sunday School" beginning in the early 1890s. The first Lotus Circle was established at the [[Aryan Theosophical Society]] of New York. The term was used by [[American Section|American Section of the Theosophical Society]] from 1891 to 1895. After the organization [[1895 Split in American Section|split into two factions in 1895]], each successor organization continued to have Lotus Circles.
 
== Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society ==
 
The [[Theosophical Society in America (Judge)|Theosophical Society in America]] was led by [[William Quan Judge]] until his death on March 21, 1896. [[Katherine Tingley|Mrs. Katherine Tingley]] took over as leader, and renamed the organization to [[Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society]]. At the 1897 convention, the membership of the UBTS decided establish the Lotus Circles as a separate organization under the [[International Brotherhood League]] or IBL, changing the name to '''Lotus Groups'''. "By 1899, according to [[Elizabeth Mayer Spalding|[Elizabeth] Spalding]], between thirty-two hundred and forty-six hundred children participated in Lotus Groups Nationwide.<ref>W. Michael Ashcraft, ''The Dawn of the New Cycle: Point Loma Theosophists and American Culture'' (Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press, 2002), 91.</ref>
 
[[File:Lotus Circles drawing contest.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Drawing contest, from ''The American Theosophist'', June, 1913]]
== American Theosophical Society ==
 
The re-formed [[American Theosophical Society|American Section]] of the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)|Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Madras, India]] also continued to schedule children's activities in the local groups, and printed support materials in its periodicals. [[Mercury (periodical)|''Mercury'']], edited by [[William John Walters]], was initially written for children, since Walters was Conductor of the Lotus Circles children's group in San Francisco. The periodicals reported on activities of the children's groups, and printed stories and drawings for children to enjoy. Fairies pixies, myths, and animals were favorite subjects. Support was centralized in the Lotus Bureau, headed by Marjorie Tuttle. She would suggest monthly topics for teaching Theosophy to the young. The suggestions she proposed to begin in September 1919<ref>Marjorie Tuttle, "The Lotus Bureau" ''The Messenger'' 3.3 (August, 1915), 78.</ref> were:
 
{{Col-begin|width=70%}}
{{Col-break|width=2%}}
{{Col-break|width=12%}}
*Brotherhood
*The Masters
*The Great Religions
*The World of the Christ
{{Col-break|width=15%}}
*Reincarnation
*Karma
*The Various Kingdoms
*The Theosophical Society and Its Leaders
{{Col-break|width=12%}}
*The Various Races
*Fairies
*The Astral World
*The Heaven World
{{Col-end}}
 
== Additional resources ==
* [https://www.theosophy.world/encyclopedia/lotus-circle Lotus Circle, The] in Theosophy World.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:UBTS]]
[[Category:UBTS]]
[[Category:TSA Judge]]
[[Category:Point Loma]]
[[Category:TS Adyar]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Latest revision as of 15:00, 23 November 2023

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Lotus Circles were a form of Theosophical "Sunday School" beginning in the early 1890s. The first Lotus Circle was established at the Aryan Theosophical Society of New York. The term was used by American Section of the Theosophical Society from 1891 to 1895. After the organization split into two factions in 1895, each successor organization continued to have Lotus Circles.

Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society

The Theosophical Society in America was led by William Quan Judge until his death on March 21, 1896. Mrs. Katherine Tingley took over as leader, and renamed the organization to Universal Brotherhood and Theosophical Society. At the 1897 convention, the membership of the UBTS decided establish the Lotus Circles as a separate organization under the International Brotherhood League or IBL, changing the name to Lotus Groups. "By 1899, according to [Elizabeth] Spalding, between thirty-two hundred and forty-six hundred children participated in Lotus Groups Nationwide.[1]

Drawing contest, from The American Theosophist, June, 1913

American Theosophical Society

The re-formed American Section of the Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Madras, India also continued to schedule children's activities in the local groups, and printed support materials in its periodicals. Mercury, edited by William John Walters, was initially written for children, since Walters was Conductor of the Lotus Circles children's group in San Francisco. The periodicals reported on activities of the children's groups, and printed stories and drawings for children to enjoy. Fairies pixies, myths, and animals were favorite subjects. Support was centralized in the Lotus Bureau, headed by Marjorie Tuttle. She would suggest monthly topics for teaching Theosophy to the young. The suggestions she proposed to begin in September 1919[2] were:

  • Brotherhood
  • The Masters
  • The Great Religions
  • The World of the Christ
  • Reincarnation
  • Karma
  • The Various Kingdoms
  • The Theosophical Society and Its Leaders
  • The Various Races
  • Fairies
  • The Astral World
  • The Heaven World

Additional resources

Notes

  1. W. Michael Ashcraft, The Dawn of the New Cycle: Point Loma Theosophists and American Culture (Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press, 2002), 91.
  2. Marjorie Tuttle, "The Lotus Bureau" The Messenger 3.3 (August, 1915), 78.