Marie Poutz

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Marie Poutz at Krotona

Marie Poutz was a prominent American worker in the Theosophical Society in America, affectionately known as "Poutzie."

Early life and education

Marie Poutz was born on February 12, 1860 to Pierre and Estelle Ferrier Poutz in New Orleans. After Marie was born her French parents moved back to Paris for a time: "Her father had accumulated sufficient fortune to retire from active business life, and love for the old country with its greater cultural advantages appealed to both parents." She was educated in Paris until she was seven years old.

By this time the Civil War in America had been fought and lost by the Southern States, and with it came the collapse of the ample fortune of the Poutz family. The conditions were such that there was nothing to do but return to America and take up life once more on the old plantation. Conditions were difficult and it was not until 1873 that the family fortune was regained.

Pierre was a cotton buyer, and two of his sons also worked in the cotton industry as buyers and inspectors. Marie, the youngest, was educated privately after the family's return to Louisiana. She had a classical education, including German and music, but did not learn English until later.

During this educative period, at the age of fourteen, she ceased to believe in the dogmas of the Christian Church which had been taught to her. But at the age of fifteen she came across the works of Flamarion, Louis Figuier [a French scientist] and others of like nature, which did appeal to her and were a very good stepping stone to Theosophy, and satisfied her for many years.

As for what is called the social life, Miss Poutz cared little for it, and while her friends plunged into the gay society of dances and parties with great zest, her interest was in her studies and music.

When Marie was twenty-one, her family took in two small daughters of a friend, and Marie embraced the responsibility of raising them. Her mother was frail, and died in 1890. Her father's fortune again disappeared,

so that at the age of thirty-six she began teaching music. Her earnings were meager, and sometimes $32.00 per month had to suffice to support the family of four [herself, her father, and the two girls]. The teaching period lasted for eleven years, and during that period her father died, the older of the girls married, and the younger one became self supporting as a stenographer.

Theosophical Society involvement

Miss Poutz became a member of the Theosophical Society on March 24, 1898, as a founding member of the New Orleans TS. She continued living in New Orleans until at least 1901, but by 1910 had moved to Norfolk, Virginia, working as a stenographer in an attorney's office.

By 1912 she had moved to the new Theosophical colony of Krotona in Hollywood. There she worked as a stenographer and secretary to the president, A. P. Warrington. She was also a teacher, and lecturer. Later, after the Krotona Institute of Theosophy was relocated in Ojai, Ventura County, she sometimes worked in the Krotona Library.

In 1921 Miss Poutz was a delegate to the First World Congress of the Theosophical Society in Paris, along with A. P. Warrington, A. F. Knudsen, Max Wardall, and others. After the congress, she accompanied Annie Besant to the international Theosophical Society headquarters in Adyar, Chennai, India.

In 1935 she and C. Jinarajadasa visited the California Pacific International Exposition.

Recognition of her work

During summer conventions and summer school at the American Section's headquarters, Olcott, the members would meet for meditation before breakfast, according to Clara Codd: "Generally this is taken by the most beloved person in the whole section, little Miss Marie Poutz, head of the esoteric work."

In March 24, 1948, the members at Krotona celebrated Miss Poutz's 50th anniversary of membership with a party.

The lodge members gathered in the Great Hall where the platform had been made beautiful with great bouquets of stock against the dark blue velvet backdrop and flanking an easel draped effectively with silk scarves. On the Easel was the handsomely illuminated and framed scroll which had been awarded Miss Poutz by the National Society at last summer's Convention, honoring this same anniversary.

Miss Poutz was escorted to a scarf-draped chair in the center of the platform by the lodge president, Mr. Herbert Staggs. Miss Elizabeth Hancock at the piano played a favorite of Miss Poutz's, the slow movement from Beethoven's Seventh Sonata. Then Miss Poutz for more than an hour delighted 'her family,' with reminiscences of these important fifty years. She told us how she found Theosophy, how she entered the Society in March, 1898 in New Orleans, and bits about her work under four Presidents of the Society, Colonel Olcott, Dr. Besant, Dr. Arundale and Mr. Jinarajadasa. It was an unforgettable event for those fortunate enough to be present...

The scroll had been illuminated by a member who was world-famous in that art, Mr. A. Theo Bondy of Wilmette, Illinois, who is known in among Theosophists for creating a superb illumination of The Three Objects. The wording was:

To Marie Poutz – The Sixty-First Annual Convention of The Theosophical Society in America hereby gives tangible expression of its deepest gratitude and appreciation to Marie Poutz for her fifty years of faithful service to The Theosophical Society and for the inspiration and encouragement she has given to so many to make Theosophy a living power in their lives.

Later years

Miss Poutz died on July 28, 1951 in Ventura County, California.