https://theosophy.wiki/w-en/index.php?title=Special:NewPages&feed=atom&hideredirs=1&limit=500&offset=&namespace=0&username=&tagfilter=&size-mode=max&size=0Theosophy Wiki - New pages [en]2024-03-29T11:50:05ZFrom Theosophy WikiMediaWiki 1.39.4https://theosophy.wiki/en/Theosophical_pamphletsTheosophical pamphlets2024-02-21T21:30:56Z<p>SysopJ: /* Pamphlet collections from the Theosophical Society in America */</p>
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<div>'''UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''<br><br />
'''UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''<br><br />
People active in the [[Theosophical Movement]] have always published '''pamphlets on Theosophical subjects''' as an inexpensive and portable means of distributing information. <br />
<br />
Many of these have been scanned and are available online from various sources. <br />
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== Pamphlet collections from the [[Theosophical Society in America]] ==<br />
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The Department of Education at the [[Theosophical Society in America]] offers its most recent '''[https://www.theosophical.org/membership/member-resources/pamphlets educational pamphlets]''' on its website.<br />
<br />
The [[Henry S. Olcott Memorial Library]] has established several collections of pamphlets in the Internet Archive website:<br />
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* [https://archive.org/details/Annie-Besant Annie Besant]<br />
* [https://archive.org/details/george-arundale George S. Arundale]<br />
* [https://archive.org/details/general-reports-of-the-theosophical-society?tab=collection Theosophical Society Annual General Reports]<br />
* [https://archive.org/details/blavatsky-lectures Blavatsky Lectures]<br />
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== Pamphlet collections from the [[Theosophical Society (Pasadena)|Theosophical Society in Pasadena]] ==<br />
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== Other collections ==<br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
<references/><br />
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[[Category:Research tools|Theosophical pamphlets]]</div>SysopJhttps://theosophy.wiki/en/Vonda_UrbanVonda Urban2024-02-10T14:09:45Z<p>SysopJ: /* Theosophical work */</p>
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<div>[[File:Vonda Urban portrait.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Vonda Urban]]<br />
'''Vonda Urban''' was an independent teacher of [[Theosophy]] based in Chicago, Illinois.<br />
<br />
The most impressive thing about Vonda was her impersonal and equal treatment of everyone regardless of their failings as humans, part of Nature's evolution. Absolutely non judgemental.<ref>Richard Robb in email to Michael Conlin. 2023. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref><br />
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== Early life ==<br />
<br />
Vonda Urban was born as Wanda Urbanovicz on [[December 8]], 1918 in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was the youngest child of Karolina Janik and Michael Urbanovicz. Michael had emigrated from southern Poland in 1904, and Carolina in 1906. They married on November 20, 2013, and settled in Massachusetts, where Michael worked as a baker and later as a salesman.<ref>1920 United States Federal Census.</ref><ref>1930 United States Federal Census.</ref> Their children were Olga (1914), Irene (1915), Witold (1917), and Wanda (1918).<ref>Karolina Janik in 1935 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991.</ref> <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
They didn’t have much money; so young Vonda and her sisters Irene and Olga sold pond lilies and household items door to door to help support the family.<br />
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In school, Vonda loved showing off, acting in the school plays and reciting poetry.<ref>Jon Knebel narrative. Written ca2011. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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Olga moved to Chicago in the early 1930s, followed quickly by her sisters. Vonda and Irene shortened their surname to Urban, and according to their niece, "became city girls. They struck out on their own and made careers for themselves."<ref>Deborah Urban, quoted by Becky Schlikerman, "Vonda Urban, 1918-2011" ''Chicago Tribune'' June 12, 2011.</ref><br />
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<blockquote><br />
They began by selling handmade, silkscreened greeting cards and wrapping paper (even selling it at Marshall Field's). Eventually Irene got married and Vonda, who had studied dance, started teaching at several venues, eventually landing at the preeminent Aragon Ballroom in 1954.<ref>Becky Schlikerman, "Vonda Urban, 1918-2011" ''Chicago Tribune'' June 12, 2011.</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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Michael Urbanowicz died in 1942, and his wife Karolina and son Witold moved to Chicago. Vonda and her husband Galen "later took on the responsibility for caring for her brother Witold. To earn a living, and to help support her mother, Vonda worked as a part-time bookkeeper and accountant for many Chicago firms."<ref>Jon Knebel narrative. Written ca2011. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref><br />
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[[File:Cha cha backstage at Aragon Ballroom.png|right|250px|thumb|Dancing cha cha backstage at the Aragon Ballroom]]<br />
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== Dance career ==<br />
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Beginning in 1954, the vivacious Vonda Urban taught ballroom dancing at the elegant '''Aragon Ballroom''' in Chicago, and became something of a local celebrity. As many as 18,000 patrons visited the venue every week to enjoy the maple dance floor could could hold 8,000 at one time. Six nights a week, radio station WGN broadcast a nationwide hour-long program featuring the famous bands who were playing: the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey, Billy May, Eddy Howard, Teddy Phillips, Dick Jurgens, Chuck Foster, and Buddy Morrow. Lessons in the newest Latin dance styles such as mambo, bossa nova, rhumba, cha cha, and merengue were offered free every Sunday night, and the classic fox trot and waltz on Tuesdays, with Vonda Urban as the instructor. After marrying a band leader and music teacher, Galen Williams, on October 16, 1957, she played drums in his dance band &ndash; the first female drummer in that time. They divorced in the 1970s.<br />
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[[File:Vonda Urban 1972 advertisement.png|right|160px|thumb|Advertisement in ''Daily Northwestern'', 1972]]<br />
[[File:Vonda_Urban_diagram.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Chains and Rounds diagram by Vonda Urban and Irene Stashinski]]<br />
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== Theosophical work ==<br />
<br />
Vonda Urban was a truly independent student and teacher of [[Theosophy]], associated with Theosophists from the [[Point Loma]] tradition, the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)|Adyar Theosophical Society]], and others, but did not join the organizations. She worked with the editors of independent Theosophical journals, [[Boris de Zirkoff|Boris de Zirkoff's]] [[Theosophia (periodical)|''Theosophia'']] and [[The Eclectic Theosophist (periodical)|''The Eclectic Theosophist'']], edited by W. Emmett Small and Helen Todd. She also wrote for the academic journal ''Theosophical History'' and for the journal of the [[Theosophical Society in America]]. <br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
Her mother was interested in spiritualism, and when attending a spiritualist gathering in Chicago, she heard [[George Cardinal LeGros]], a [[Point Loma]] Theosophist, speak on Theosophy. She told her daughters Irene and Vonda about him, and this led to their life long involvement with Theosophy.<br />
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Vonda and Galen became close friends with Cardinal and his wife Elaine, and spent many evenings together. She called those 10 or 12 years the “wonder years.” At one lecture at Cardinal’s home in Chicago, she met [[ Boris de Zirkoff]], the grandnephew of [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|Madame Blavatsky]]. She would later become a researcher for Boris as he was compiling [[Collected Writings (book)|H. P. Blavatsky’s collected writings]] and working on his edition of her [[The Secret Doctrine (book)|''Secret Doctrine'']]. She found items he needed at the University of Chicago, Newberry Library, and the Field Museum of Natural History. She also helped proofread the final volumes and index of the [[Collected Writings (book)|''Collected Writings'']].<ref>Jon Knebel narrative. Written ca2011. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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In 1972, Miss Urban began offering classes in "Esoteric Philosophy as set forth by H. P. Blavatsky and her teachers." She advertised in the ''Daily Northwestern'' and listed her telephone number in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory under "Philosopher." She hosted five or six classes a week for the rest of her life. "She also taught an astrology class, where the group would read astrological charts. Altogether she taught approximately 1,000 pupils about the philosophy."<ref>Becky Schlikerman, "Vonda Urban, 1918-2011" ''Chicago Tribune'' June 12, 2011.</ref> One of her students, Jon Knebel, wrote:<br />
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<blockquote><br />
Vonda wrote many articles for Theosophical magazines including [[Theosophia]], [[The Eclectic Theosophist]], and [[Theosophical History]]. She lectured frequently at the Akbar Lodge in Chicago, and once or twice a year at the [[Olcott (campus)|Wheaton Illinois headquarters]] of The [[Theosophical Society in America]], several of the Wheaton lectures having been recorded. Vonda was famous for giving away books, pamphlets and recordings at her lectures, and would often have her audience read along with her as she quoted certain passages. She felt it might encourage them to continue their reading after her lecture was concluded.<br />
<br />
Vonda Urban guided and nurtured countless students of Theosophy over the past four decades. Well versed in Theosophy, she was always gentle and caring, always upbeat and inspiring, but also sternly concerned and involved with her fellow students’ growth in the mundane world. She charged us with leading lives that reflected the profound teachings we were studying. Her favorite passage from H. P. Blavatsky’s [[The Voice of the Silence (book)|Voice of the Silence]] was, “Thou canst not travel on [[Spiritual Path|the Path]] before thou hast become that Path itself.”<ref>Jon Knebel narrative. Written ca2011. Theosophical Society in America Archives.</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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Her sister Irene Stashinski worked with her to develop some excellent diagrams depicting [[Chains and Rounds]] and other Theosophical concepts. Vonda, Irene, and Vonda's students Arnie Coleman and Norman Zuefle assisted in production of the fourteenth volume of the [[Collected Writings (book)|''Collected Writings'']] of Theosophical Society founder [[H. P. Blavatsky]].<ref>Preface to Volume XIV, page xxi.</ref><br />
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== Final years ==<br />
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Vonda continued teaching Theosophy almost to the end of her life. She died of pancreatic cancer on [[June 3]], 2011. <br />
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== Additional resources ==<br />
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=== Audio ===<br />
<br />
All of the following lectures were delivered at the Theosophical Society in America, in Wheaton, Illinois.<br />
<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/hpb-messianic-messenger Helena Petrovna Blavatsky: Messianic Messenger]''' October 1, 1991. Explores the relevance of Madame Blavatsky's life and teachings to modern times. Her handout is not available, but it was comprised of photocopied excerpts from and references to:<br />
:::'''[[Mahatma Letter No. 22|Mahatma Letter 26]]<br><br />
:::'''[[Mahatma_Letter_to_H._S._Olcott_-_LMW_1_No._19|1888 letter from Koot Hoomi to Olcott]]'''<br><br />
:::'''Constance Wachtmeister's ''[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002013512174&seq=9 Reminiscences]'''''<br><br />
:::'''[[Mahatma_Letter_No._45|Mahatma Letter 44]]<br><br />
:::'''[https://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hpb-aps/bl-toc.htm#hpb 1885 letter from HPB to Patience Sinnett]<br><br />
:::'''''H.P. Blavatsky, Tibet, and Tulku''''' by Geoffrey Barborka Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1966'''.<br><br />
:::'''[https://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/3424017.html ''Nightmare Tales'']''' by H. P. Blavatsky.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/the-voice-of-silence The Voice of the Silence]'''. May 1, 1992. How this classic book of Eastern Wisdom came to be shared with the world.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/light-for-the-mind-love-for-the-heart-understanding-for-the-intellect Light for the Mind, Love for the Heart, Understanding for the Intellect]'''. October 20, 1994. Spirit, Soul, and Body carry three separate lines of evolution.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/blavatsky-the-mystery Blavatsky: The Mystery]'''. October 19, 1995. H. P. Blavatsky was called the sphinx of the 19th century. Glimpse the real nature of HPB's world. <br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/letters-that-have-helped-me-commemorating-william-q.-judge Letters That Have Helped Me: Commemorating William Q. Judge]'''. March 21, 1996. A tribute to Judge on the 100th anniversary of his death. Extracts from his inspirational letters are included.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/hypnotism-a-psychic-malpractice Hypnotism: A Psychic Malpractice]'''. October 24, 1996. Comments on hypnotism by H. P. Blavatsky and W. Q. Judge are examined. How is hypnotism different from mesmerism?<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/a-tribute-to-hpb-white-lotus-day-1997-part-1 Tribute to H. P. Blavatsky: White Lotus Day 1997 Part 1]'''. May 8, 1997. Recounts H. P. Blavatsky's work and tireless efforts to teach Theosophical principles.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/a-tribute-to-hpb-white-lotus-day-1997-part-2 Tribute to H. P. Blavatsky: White Lotus Day 1997 Part 2]'''. May 8, 1997. <br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/the-ensouling-of-our-human-nature Ensouling of Our Human Nature]'''. March 27, 1997. Based on insights from Theosophist G. de Purucker, this talk explores ways of living a noble life through a blending of heart and mind.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/conversations-in-occultism Conversations in Occultism]'''. September 25, 1997. H. P. Blavatsky answers W. Q. Judge's questions about the Kali Yuga, our present age. Includes discussion on elementals, mantras, mental discipline, and inner vibrations.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/psychic-and-noetic-action Psychic and Noetic Action]'''. May 28, 1998. According to the speaker, the brain is both physical and metaphysical. Our daily choice making originates either in selfish or selfless motive, and while the selection is made in our brain-mind, only selfless motives flow from the heart-light.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/the-elixir-of-life Elixir of Life]'''. September 30, 1999. A talk on selected works of H. P. Blavatsky, presenting longevity as a process of spiritual unfoldment based on knowledge and discipline.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/karma-reincarnation-and-you Karma, Reincarnation, and You]'''. October 25, 2001. Through the understanding that everything we experience is the outflow of our own thoughts, emotions, and actions in past lives, we can find a new way to deal with our current challenges and pave the way to mental freedom.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/what-death-really-is-part-1 What Death Really Is Part 1]'''. September 25, 2003. Through the understanding that everything we experience is the outflow of our own thoughts, emotions, and actions in past lives, we can find a new way to deal with our current challenges and pave the way to mental freedom.<br />
* '''[https://archive.org/details/what-death-really-is-part-2 What Death Really Is Part 2]'''. September 25, 2003.<br />
* '''[ In Honor of H. P. Blavatsky: White Lotus Day Commemoration]'''. May 5, 2005.<br />
<br />
[[File:Vonda Urban lecturing.png|right|220|thumb|"Messianic Messenger" lecture in 1991]]<br />
=== Video ===<br />
* '''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eT3MjQ7rFqc Helena P. Blavatsky, Messianic Messenger]'''. 1991 at Theosophical Society in America. Handout is not available, but it was comprised of photocopied excerpts from and references to:<br />
:::'''[[Mahatma Letter No. 22|Mahatma Letter 26]]<br><br />
:::'''[[Mahatma_Letter_to_H._S._Olcott_-_LMW_1_No._19|1888 letter from Koot Hoomi to Olcott]]'''<br><br />
:::'''Constance Wachtmeister's ''[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=yale.39002013512174&seq=9 Reminiscences]'''''<br><br />
:::'''[[Mahatma_Letter_No._45|Mahatma Letter 44]]<br><br />
:::'''[https://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/hpb-aps/bl-toc.htm#hpb 1885 letter from HPB to Patience Sinnett]<br><br />
:::'''''H.P. Blavatsky, Tibet, and Tulku''''' by Geoffrey Barborka Wheaton, Illinois: Theosophical Publishing House, 1966'''.<br><br />
:::'''[https://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/3424017.html ''Nightmare Tales'']''' by H. P. Blavatsky.<br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
<references/><br />
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[[Category:Educators|Urban, Vonda]]<br />
[[Category:Lecturers|Urban, Vonda]]<br />
[[Category:Dancers|Urban, Vonda]]<br />
[[Category:Independent]]<br />
[[Category:Nationality American|Urban, Vonda]]<br />
[[Category:People|Urban, Vonda]]</div>Janet Kerschnerhttps://theosophy.wiki/en/David_E._de_LaraDavid E. de Lara2024-02-05T21:42:55Z<p>SysopJ: </p>
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<div>'''David Etienne de Lara''' was a scholar and language teacher present at the meeting that led to the [[Founding of the Theosophical Society|founding]] of the [[Theosophical Society]] on [[September 8]], 1875. <br />
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Many thanks to Joma Sipe and Marc Demarest for their excellent research related to David E. de Lara, and thanks also to John Patrick Deveney and Boaz Huss for their contributions. Locating biographical details about this family has been complicated by the existence of other David de Laras married to other wives named Sarah in both England and the United States.<br />
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== Personal life ==<br />
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David Etienne de Lara was born in 1796 in Amsterdam to a Jewish family of Portuguese descent. His family were probably among of the Sephardic Jews in the Netherlands who referred to themselves as "Hebrews of the Portuguese Nation," distinguishing their community from the Ashkenazi Jews of eastern Europe.<ref>See Miriam Bodian, ''Hebrews of the Portuguese Nation: Conversos and Community in Early Modern Amsterdam'' (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1997), as mentioned in the Wikipedia article [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sephardic_Jews_in_the_Netherlands Sephardic Jews in the Netherlands].</ref> He was educated an an unspecified university.<ref>"On the Spanish Language" ''Liverpool Mercury'' (September 16, 1831): 1-2.</ref><br />
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During the 1820s he seems to have traveled between the Netherlands and London, working as a language teacher.<ref>David Etienne de Lara in England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869. Arrival in London from Rotterdam on November 9, 1926.</ref> On December 8, 1828, he married Sarah Elizabeth Crawcour (1802-1872), a Jew of Polish Ashkenazi descent, in a Church of England ceremony.<ref>David deLara in London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938. From church register for Saint James, Paddington.</ref> They had two sons, Etienne and Isaac, and three daughters, Flora, Emma, and Victoria.<ref>1841 England Census.</ref><ref>1855 New York, U.S., State Census.</ref> Despite the Saint James marriage service, the de Lara family were actively engaged in the Jewish community, and all the daughters married Jews.<br />
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To support his family, de Lara taught foreign languages and wrote books of instruction. They lived in London, Manchester, and Liverpool, according to demand for language teaching. Sometime around 1850-1855, the family emigrated from London to New York City. In 1851, Sarah and her daughters remained in London, while census records lack any mention of David and his sons, who may have already moved.<ref>Sarah de Lara in 1851 England Census.</ref> During the New York years, Mr. de Lara continued his language work.<br />
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As of 1870, Mr. de Lara was living in Manhattan with his daughter Victoria and her family, and had a personal wealth of $50,000.<ref>1870 United States Federal Census.</ref> He died on [[June 26]], 1879 in Manhattan of "senectus" (old age) and was buried in Ozone Park, Queens, New York.<ref>1880 New York, U.S., U.S. Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880.</ref><ref>"Died" ''New York Herald'' no. 15651 (June 29, 1879(: 11.</ref><ref>David Etienne De Lara in U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current.</ref><br />
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[[File:De Lara A Key to the Portuguese Language.jpg|right|200px|thumb|1925 book title page]]<br />
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[[File:De Lara at Frenchs Academy.jpg|right|180px|thumb|Announcement at French's Academy, Boston]]<br />
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== Career ==<br />
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Mr. de Lara had a very active career in teaching foreign languages, writing, and lecturing, from the 1830s until his death in 1879. <br />
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In addition to his language work, he was an accountant and merchant.<ref>1841 England Census.</ref><ref>1870 United States Federal Census.</ref> He seems to have been in partnership with Henry Crawcour (probably his wife's older brother) as stationers at 21 Mount Street, Whitechapel in the 1830s.<ref>''The London Gazette'' (April 13, 1838).</ref> <br />
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=== Language work ===<br />
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He taught French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and German, offering lectures, correspondence courses, and private instruction in his home.<ref>Advertisement in ''Liverpool Mercury'' (November 19, 1830): 1.</ref><ref>Advertisement in ''Liverpool Mercury'' (April 1, 1831):1.</ref><ref>''Liverpool Mercury'' (July 12, 1933): 1.</ref> His instructional approach was innovative at the time, with the object of making students proficient in the aspects of the language that they would be able to use immediately in commercial enterprises.<ref>"On the Spanish Language" ''Liverpool Mercury'' (September 16, 1831): 1-2.</ref><ref>''Liverpool Mercury'' (October 16, 1835): 6.</ref> Many of his students were in Liverpool, a major port for trade with Spain and Portugal, and he gave courses at the Royal Academy, the Academy of Literature and Science, and in evening schools.<ref>"Languages" ''Liverpool Mercury'' (April 1, 1831): 1.</ref><ref>"Evening Schools" ''Liverpool Mercury'' (June 29, 1838): 2.</ref><br />
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<blockquote><br />
Mr. de Lara has received a University education: his whole life has been devoted to literary pursuits; and though he does not lay claim to the invention of any new system, he can with confidence assert that the ''method'' pursued by him, founded on many years' experience as a Teacher, is decidedly superior to any laid before the public... Mr. de Lara can refer not only the Ladies and Gentlemen, Clergymen, and Heads of Academies, and Ladies' Seminaries of the highest respectability, but to the compositions of his Pupils, which are to be seen at his house, 3, ''Trafalger-street, Russel-street.''<ref>"On the Spanish Language" ''Liverpool Mercury'' (September 16, 1831): 1-2.</ref><br />
</blockquote> <br />
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He also taught in London and in Manchester. After moving to the United States, de Lara taught mostly in New York, but went wherever he found demand, such as French's Academy in Boston.<br />
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=== Writing for ''New Era'' ===<br />
De Lara was associated with [[John Storer Cobb]], another [[Theosophical Society]] [[Founders|founder]] and editor of the journal ''New Era''.<br />
<blockquote><br />
In June 1873 appeared the first part of a fifteen-part series by “Lara” on “Defence of our National System of Education against the Attacks of the Catholic Press” — a vigorous attack on admitting religion, especially Catholicism, into the public schools, with learned historical digressions on the evil consequences of Catholic political thought. At the conclusion of this diatribe, “Lara,” who now appears by his full name of D.E. de Lara, took up the cudgels again in an eight-part series, beginning in the issue for September 1874, on “Freemasonry, Judaism, and Christianity.” From this and his other contributions we can glean a bit more about the mysterious man whose name appears among those attending the formative meeting of the T.S. on September 8, 1875, and who read a paper before the group on the 18th. David de Lara was first of all quite old, since he mentions a book he had seen in Spain in 1820 or 1821, and he was a Portuguese Jew, a Sephardi.<ref>John Patrick Deveney, "D.E. de Lara, John Storer Cobb, and The New Era" ''Theosophical History'' 15 no.4 (October, 2011): 29.</ref><br />
</blockquote> <br />
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In a review of a lecture given by de Lara on Pope Sixtus V before the Liberal Club in July 1875, the editor says of him:<br />
<blockquote><br />
Mr. de Lara, who is well-known, at any rate, to the readers of the New Era, through his writings upon the school question and other subjects, is a gentleman who has for a period of nearly half a century been engaged with his pen in enriching English literature, though chiefly under a nom de plume, in consequence of a too great modesty, which, being a part of his nature, cannot be eradicated. The history of European nations he has made a special study, and is eminently qualified to speak to us upon any question relating to the social or political condition of those countries.<ref>Editor, ''New Era'' 5 no. 9 (September 1875): 597.</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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Later that year:<br />
<blockquote><br />
In October 1875, the New Era, probably with Cobb at its helm, took up Theosophy and its personae in a big way. It gave a long review of Olcott’s People from the Other World, recommending it as “well written” and filled with "a desire to arrive at the truth, at whatever cost."<ref>"Literary Notices" ''New Era'' 5 no.10 (October 1875): 658-69.</ref><ref>John Patrick Deveney, "D.E. de Lara, John Storer Cobb, and The New Era" ''Theosophical History'' 15 no.4 (October, 2011): 29.</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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[[File:De Lara lecture on art and nature.jpg|right|300px|Lecture announcement, 1875]]<br />
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=== Lecturing ===<br />
<br />
Mr. de Lara was in demand as a lecturer on a wide range of topics. At the Manchester Mechanics' Institute, he gave a series of four lectures on the dramatic literature of France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.<ref>''Manchester Courier'' (October 20, 1838): 2.</ref> He gave similar lectures at the Liverpool Literary, Scientific, & Commercial Institution.<ref>H. T. Atkinson, "Liverpool Literary, Scientific, & Commercial Institution" ''Liverpool Mercury'' (June 12, 1835): 1.</ref><br />
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After moving to the United States, he continued lecturing. In Boston he gave a series of talks at Tremont Temple [Baptist church] on "the Social, Moral and Political Condition of Russia." The advertisement said that he had "recently returned from St. Petersburg, after a residence of two years.<ref>"Russia and Turkey - Tremont Temple" ''Daily Atlas'' [Boston] (December 13, 1853): 2.</ref> Not all of his lectures were on serious subjects. In 1875 he gave a "satirico-humorous" talk called "Nature and Art, or Love and Marriage" at the synogogue on Lexington Avenue in New York. He was delivering it for the <u>third</u> <u>time</u>, by request.<ref>"The Lecture Season" ''New York Herald'' (November 18, 1875): 9.</ref><br />
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== Theosophical Society involvement ==<br />
<br />
On [[September 8]], 1875, he was present, along with his friend [[John Storer Cobb]], at the meeting when [[Henry Steel Olcott|Col. Henry S. Olcott]] proposed formation of a society "for the study and elucidation of Occultism, the Cabbala, etc." and Mr. de Lara handed in his name to the newly-appointed secretary, [[William Quan Judge]], to be one of the founding members. He may not have been present at all the subsequent meetings.<br />
Historian [[Josephine Ransom]] described him as:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
A learned old gentleman of Portuguese-Hebrew extraction. [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky|H. P. B.]] and [[Henry Steel Olcott|H. S. O.]] had great affection for him. He seems to have remained a member till he died.<ref>Josephine Ransom, ''A Short History of The Theosophical Society'' (Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House, 1938), 112.</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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== Involvement with Freemasonry ==<br />
<br />
A modern historian, Boaz Huss, described de Lara as "an Anglo-Jewish scholar and Freemason," but no specific evidence of the masonic connection can be cited at this time.<ref>Boaz Huss, "In Search of the Jewish Theosophists" ''The Newsletter of the Friends of the Theosophical Archives'' FOTA no. 6, Spring-Summer 2016. The issue, including the printed version of the article (with pictures), can be downloaded [http://hypatia.gr/fota/images/newsletter/Fota_Newsletter06.pdf here].</ref> in 1874 de Lara did discuss freemasonry in a lecture, "Freemasonry, Judaism and Christianity: Do they harmonize or are they antagonistic?" at Cooper Institute in New York.<ref>"The Lecture Season" ''New York Herald'' (July 2, 1874): 12.</ref><br />
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== Writings ==<br />
<br />
De Lara wrote for ''New Era'', a reform Jewish periodical, and according to that journal he wrote "chiefly under a nom de plume" and specialized in the "history of European nations." <ref>Editor, ''New Era'' 5 no. 9 (September 1875): 597.</ref><br />
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During his early years in England, he began writing books for students of foreign languages. They were intended to be especially useful to people engaged in commerce.<br />
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* ''A Key to the Portuguese Language''. Boosey & Sons, 1925. It included vocabulary, expressions, and grammar, and was regularly advertised in newspapers until 1930.<ref>Advertisement in ''Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser'' (January 19, 1825): 1.</ref><ref>Advertisement in ''The Times'' (London). February 4, 1829.</ref><br />
* ''A Key to the Spanish Language''.<br />
* ''A Short and Plain Grammar of the Spanish Language''.<br />
* ''Commercial Tables''.<br />
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== Additional resources ==<br />
<br />
* Deveney, John Patrick, "D.E. de Lara, John Storer Cobb, and The New Era" ''Theosophical History'' 15 no.4 (October, 2011): 27-33. The ''Theosophical History'' website is [https://theohistory.org/ here]. <br />
* Huss, Boaz, "In Search of the Jewish Theosophists" ''The Newsletter of the Friends of the Theosophical Archives'' FOTA no. 6, Spring-Summer 2016. The issue, including the printed version of the article (with pictures), can be downloaded [http://hypatia.gr/fota/images/newsletter/Fota_Newsletter06.pdf here].<br />
* "D. E. de Lara (Theosophical Society)" family tree in Ancestry.com, compiled by Marc Demarest. Large collection of newspaper clippings.<br />
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== Notes ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Founders|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:Associates of HPB|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:Educators|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:Writers|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:Lecturers|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:Masons|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:Jews|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:Nationality Portuguese|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:Nationality Dutch|de Lara, D. E.]]<br />
[[Category:People|de Lara, D. E.]]</div>SysopJhttps://theosophy.wiki/en/Association_of_Hebrew_TheosophistsAssociation of Hebrew Theosophists2024-01-23T17:44:50Z<p>SysopJ: </p>
<hr />
<div>The '''Association of Hebrew Theosophists''' formed in 1925 during the 50th anniversary jubilee convention of the [[Theosophical Society (Adyar)|Theosophical Society]]. The founding officers were Gaston Polak of Belgium, A. B. Salem of Cochin, and [[S. S. Cohen]] of Adyar, with members from Bulgaria, Egypt, Iran, Italy, and several parts of India. Branches formed in India, England, The Netherlands, and the United States. <br />
<br />
The Dutch branch of the organization was called the Vereeniging voor Joodsche Theosofen, or VJT, with Louis Vet serving as president. <br />
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The American branch emphasized publishing, under the leadership of president Henry C. Samuels, vice-president [[Bozena Brydlova]], secretary E. F. Silberman, and treasurer Louis B Ball. They published '''''The Jewish Theosophist''''' and several books and pamphlets. <br />
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== Publications ==<br />
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* Horne, Alexander. ''Spiritualizing Unspiritual Judaism''. Seattle, Wash.: Association of Hebrew Theosophists, American Section, 1926.<br />
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== Additional resources ==<br />
<br />
* Huss, Boaz. '''[https://www.academia.edu/26948504/In_Search_of_the_Jewish_Theosophists In Search of the Jewish Theosophists]'''. Posted on Academia.edu. The paper was published in The Newsletter of the Friends of the Theosophical Archives, FOTA no. 6, Spring - Summer 2016, which is available at [http://hypatia.gr/fota/images/newsletter/Fota_Newsletter06.pdf this website].<br />
* Nagel, Alexandra. '''[https://correspondencesjournal.com/18604-2/ The Association of Jewish Theosophists in the Netherlands: The Efforts of Louis Vet and Others to Revive Judaism"]'''. ''Correspondences'' 7 no.2 (2019): 411-439.<br />
* Nagel, Alexandra. '''[https://www.academia.edu/41615130/Supplement_to_The_Association_of_Jewish_Theosophists_in_the_Netherlands_Inventory_of_Dutch_Jews_Registered_at_the_Theosophical_Society_Between_1875_1942 Inventory of Dutch Jews Registered at the Theosophical Society Between 1875-1942]'''. Supplement to the article "The Association of Jewish Theosophists in the Netherlands: The Efforts of Louis Vet and Others to Revive Judaism," which will be published in Correspondences 7, no. 2 (2019): 411-39.<br />
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== Notes ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Organizations|Association of Hebrew]]<br />
[[Category:TS Adyar|Association of Hebrew]]<br />
[[Category:Jews|Association of Hebrew]]</div>SysopJhttps://theosophy.wiki/en/Castle_EerdeCastle Eerde2024-01-13T22:05:11Z<p>SysopJ: </p>
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<div>[[File:Eerde Castle.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Castle Eerde]]<br />
'''Castle Eerde''' near Ommen, The Netherlands, was the European center for [[Jiddu Krishnamurti]]. In the early 1920s, baron Philip van Pallandt deeded the castle and its lands to the [[Order of the Star in the East]], of which Krishnamurti was the spiritual leader. The baron was devoted to him. For several years the order held huge summer gatherings called "Star Camps" in the castle grounds. After the order was dissolved in 1929, Krishnamurti held a final camp in 1930, but in the following year the property was deeded back to the van Pallandt family. Krishnamurti held a few more lectures and meetings at the castle during the 1930s.<br />
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[[Beatrice Wood]] attended the 1930 camp with her friend Helen Freeman at Krishnamurti's invitation, and described the castle like this:<br />
<blockquote><br />
I first saw the castle through an archway of trees; it was a large structure with simple lines, surrounded by a moat full of brown reflections and white swans, in whose waters swam enormous golden carp, some a century old, from whose ancient scales glittered metallic tones. Beyond this were acres of forest through which wove narrow footpaths which led through the cool of the trees.<br />
<br />
Inside, a handsome curving stairway dominated the large entrance hall. Old pewter goblets and plates decorated the white walls, and Gobelin tapestries hid the stern surfaces of other rooms The dimensions were awesome, making me feel immaterial.<br />
<br />
As did Krishnaji when he spoke. In earlier years, he had lectured informally in one of these stately rooms. At that time, he spoke to invited friends, as he had planned to this time. But so many uninvited visitors presented themselves, that there was no place in the castle to seat them. Therefore, a large tent was put up in the garden for the morning talks, which were attended by well over a hundred people.<ref>Beatrice Wood, ''The Angel Who Wore Black Tights'' (Ojai, Calif: Rogue Press, 1982), [no page numbers printed in book].</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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These sessions were referred to as the "Pre-Camp" and were followed by a gathering of at least two thousand people who lived in a village of white tents during the main camp.<br />
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== Notes ==<br />
<references/><br />
[[Category:Places]]</div>SysopJhttps://theosophy.wiki/en/Mahatma_Letters_TrustMahatma Letters Trust2023-12-19T20:35:10Z<p>SysopJ: /* History */</p>
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<div>[[File:Joy Mills with Mahatma Letters.png|right|290px|thumb|[[Joy Mills]] with the Mahatma Letters at the British Library]]<br />
The '''Mahatma Letters Trust''' is an English organization formed by [[Maud Hoffman]] to take over responsibility for publication and preservation of the correspondence from which [[The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett'']] and the [[The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett (book)|''The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett'']] were compiled. <br />
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== History ==<br />
In 1939, Miss Hoffman arranged for permanent preservation of the letters in the manuscripts collection of the British Museum. Subsequently they were transferred to the British Library. She established the Mahatma Letters Trust to maintain the copyright of the letters. [[Christmas Humphreys]] and [[Elsie Benjamin]] were asked to become the first trustees. Two editions of the letters to Sinnett had already been published, and the new trustees took on the task of producing a new and improved third edition. The third edition was published in 1962 by the [[Theosophical Publishing House (Adyar)|Theosophical Publishing House in Adyar, Chennai, India]]. These editors carefully compared the text to the original letters, and also appealed for and received suggestions for correction and improvement from the worldwide Theosophical movement. A substantial library of relevant materials was collected.<ref>"The Mahatma Letters Trust Library" ''The American Theosophist'' 45 no. 5 (May, 1957): 108-111.</ref> Significant assistance came from [[Curuppumullage Jinarājadāsa|C. Jinarājadāsa]], James Graham who collated and summarized the many suggestions sent in by students, and [[Boris de Zirkoff]].<br />
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In 1983, Rex Dutta took over as chairman of the trust upon the death of Judge Humphreys. His magazine ''Viewpoint Aquarius'' quoted him on his new responsibilities:<br />
<blockquote><br />
There are two immediate tasks: (1) to copy in color the original letters from the Mahatmas; to make them available to those who cannot go the the British Museum in London where they are kept. Photostat in color does not give a true enough result, and more importantly, might damage the originals. The public cordially is invited to inspect these remarkable writings by visiting the Museum's Department of manuscripts, manuscripts numbers 45284-6, entitled The <br />
Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett. The printed book will help considerably in deciphering the 'handwriting', i.e. the occult precipitation and impression &ndash; the two differing processes by which these were transmitted: one meant that the 'writing' was ''within'' the (thin) paper, not protruding above as is normal; the other meant that each individual letter of the alphabet was composed of myriad parallel brush strokes, barely not-touching, and in their totality would have taken 100 scribes scores of years to complete by hand.<br />
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(2) the second great task for the Trustees is to get reprinted the companion volume ''The Blavatsky Letters to A. P. Sinnett''.<br />
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Readers may like to know that accumulated bequests over the years have given the Mahatma Letters Trust a ''superb library'' of rare indeed books; available now to serious students at the premises of Alpha Books, 60, Langdon Park Road, Highgate, London N 6 (01-348-2831). Regular study classes are also held there. <br />
<ref>"The Mahatma Letters Trust" ''The Eclectic Theosophist'' 77 (September-October, 1983): 10-11.</ref><br />
</blockquote><br />
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During Mr. Dutta's term as trustee, he did accomplish his two tasks. Excellent color photographs were taken of the letters to Sinnett, and sets of slides were purchased by the Edmonton Theosophical Society, by the [[Theosophical Society in America]], and probably also by the Theosophical Society in Pasadena, California. Colored images of these slides are displayed in this wiki. <br />
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The letters are currently housed in the British Library on Euston Road, London. The nearest station is King's Cross/St. Pancreas. A reader pass to see the letters may be obtained by applying to the Reader Registration Office. The collection and number of the manuscript is MSS 45284-6.<br />
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Rex Dutta passed away in 1989, and Tony Maddock now heads the Trust.<br />
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== Additional resources ==<br />
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== Notes ==<br />
<references/><br />
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[[Category:Organizations|Mahatma Letters Trust]]</div>SysopJ