THEOSOPHY

CARDIFF

 

Cardiff Theosophical Society

206 Newport Road,

Cardiff, Wales, UK, CF24 -1DL

 

 

 

 

History of the

Theosophical Society

 

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The Theosophical Society was founded on November 17th 1875 in New York By Madame Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and Willian Quan Judge and others. Headquarters were later established in Adyar, India.

The Common Foundation of all Religions

By Henry Steel Olcott

 

Is Theosophy a Religion ? By H P Blavatsky

 

 

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

 

____________________

 

Brief Chronology of the Theosophical Society

(Adyar)

 

Return to Homepage

 

History of the Theosophical Society in Wales

 

The Theosophical Society: Its Origin, Plan and Aims

By H S Olcott with H P Blavatsky

 

 The Original Programme of the Theosophical Society

 

Theosophy and The Theosophical Society

The Meaning of the Name

 

Applied Theosophy

By Henry Steel Olcott

 

 

 

This is where it began

The Mott Memorial Hall, New York

On November 17th 1875

1875 The founding of the Theosophical Society, in New York.

1877 Isis Unveiled, written by H.P. Blavatsky, is published.

 

1878 On July 8, H P Blavatsky became a naturalized citizen of the United States..

Colonel Henry Steel Olcott and H.P. Blavatsky set off for India.

 

 1876 – 1878  Influence Grows Despite Inactivity

 

1879 Olcott and H.P. Blavatsky arrive in India. Olcott and H.P. Blavatsky start the Publication of "The Theosophist".

 

Timeline of British India

 

1881 Publication of The Occult World, written by A.P. Sinnett.

 

1883 Publication of Esoteric Buddhism, written by A.P. Sinnett.

 

Letters by H P Blavatsky to A P Sinnet

 

The Theosophical Society

Alfred Percy Sinnett

 

1884 Charles Webster Leadbeater joins the Theosophical Society and travels to India at the order of the Master. The Inner Group of the London Lodge is formed.

1885 H.P. Blavatsky returns to Europe. "Man-Or Fragments of Forgotten Truth", by Mohini Chatterji and Laura Holloway was published.

1886 W.Q. Judge starts the magazine, The Path.

1887 W. Q. Judge writes a letter to H.P. Blavatsky asking her to start a group with the purpose of esoteric instruction.

1888 The Secret Doctrine, written by H.P. Blavatsky, is published. The existence of the Esoteric School is publicly announced.

Secret Doctrine Text Version 7.5MB

1889 Annie Besant, a high profile free thinker and social reformer, joins the Theosophical Society after reading the Secret Doctrine and meeting H.P. Blavatsky. H.P. Blavatsky publishes

" The Key To Theosophy".

 

1889 - 1890 Mohandes K Gandhi is introduced to H P Blavatsky and Annie Besant in London but declines to become a regular member of the Theosophical Society. However, during the following year the Society’s influence lead him to read Theosophical and religious literature including Edwin Arnold's The Song Celestial (the Bhagavad Gita) and The Light of Asia.

 

H P Blavatsky meets Mohandes K Gandhi

 

1890 T. Subba Row dies.

1891 H P Blavatsky dies in London on May 8th which becomes celebrated as White Lotus Day and Colonel Henry Steel Olcott takes over as President. Annie Besant and W.Q. Judge become joint Outer Head of the Esoteric Section.

Tsar Nicholas II Drops in on The Theosophical Society

 

 

Colonel Henry Steel Olcott

 

More info on Colonel Olcott

 

1894 Start of the argument between W. Q. Judge on the one hand and Olcott and Besant on the other on the authorship of some Mahatmic letters received through W.Q. Judge.

1895 The American Section secedes. W. Q. Judge is its president until his death

The American break with Adyar is by no means unanimous; 75 lodges resign from the Adyar Theosophical Society and elect W Q Judge as president. 26 lodges remain in the Adyar Theosophical Society under the leadership of Alexander Fullerton.

 

1896 W. Q. Judge dies.

The American Theosophy Group which remains part of the Adyar lineage is now known a The Theosophical Society in America and establishes its headquarters at Wheaton Illinois.

W Q Judge’s breakaway group, led by Katherine Tingley moves its headquarters from New York to Pasadena in 1900 and becomes known as the Theosophical Society, Pasadena. This becomes a separate Theosophical lineage with groups worldwide under a different series of leaders: Katherine Tingley, Gottfried de Purucker, Colonel Arthur L. Conger, James A. Long and Grace F. Knoche.

 

William Quan Judge

 

More info on William Q Judge

 

1900 Annie Besant receives a letter by Mahatma Koot Hoomi.

 

1902 Annie Besant invites Rudolf Steiner to form a German Section of the Theosophical Society.

 

1904 Robert Crosbie, a supporter of W Q Judge and now leaves the Theosophical Society, Pasadena.

 

England and India By Annie Besant 1906

 

Theosophy and the Theosophical Society By Annie Besant

 

1907 Olcott dies. Annie Besant voted president of the Theosophical Society (Adyar)

 

The Vicissitudes of Theosophy By A P Sinnett

    A 1907 article assessing the early

progress of the Theosophical Society

Selection of Annie Besant's Writings

 

1909 Robert Crosbie forms the United Lodge of Theosophists with its headquarters in New York. This becomes another Theosophical lineage with groups worldwide.

 

Annie Besant

 

 

 More info on Annie Besant

 

 

1909 Leadbeater discovers Jiddu Krishnamurti on the

private beach that formed part of the Theosophical headquarters in Adyar. Krishnamurti and his family had been living in the headquarters for a few months

before this discovery. Krishnamurti was to be the vessel for the indwelling of the coming "World Teacher" that many Theosophists were expecting. This new

teacher would, in the pattern of Moses, Buddha, Zarathustra (Zoroaster), Christ, and Muhammad divulge a new dispensation, a new religious teaching.

Many Theosophists were unhappy about this move.

 

 

Charles Webster Leadbeater

1858? - 1934

 

C W Leadbeater on Freemasonry

 

1911 Formation of the "Order of the star in the East", in dedication to the "World Teacher" (i.e. J. Krishnamurti)

 

1912 J. Krishnamurti is made the head of the "Order of the star in the East". J. Krishnamurti's father starts custody battle against Annie Besant. The fight ends when in 1914, J. Krishnamurti is 18 years old and no longer a minor by Indian law. Rudolf Steiner is expelled from the Theosophical Society (Adyar), because he refuses to have as members of his German section, people who are also members of the "Order of the Star of the East". Most of the German Section leaves with him and form the Anthroposophical Society.

 

The issue of Krishnamurti threatens to split the Society further over the next twenty years.

 

Theosophy and the Great War

 

C Jinarajadasa proclaims India’s loyalty to the Empire, Cardiff 1916

 

1917 Annie Besant demanded Home Rule for India and suffered internment for it from June to September 1917. There are protests around the world and the order is lifted by order of British Home Secretary. Interment notices were also served George Arundale and B P Wadia.

 

1919 Jalianwala Bagh Massacre, Amritsar:- Troops commanded by a British Officer kill 379 and wound 1200. This leads to a distancing of Mohandes K Gandhi from Annie Besant and effectively ends Annie Besant’s hopes of a British India Commonwealth.

 

Annie Besant and The Indian National Congress

 

The Case for India by Annie Besant

 

Welsh Theosophists protest against the Internment of Annie Besant 1917

 

Annie Besant visits Cardiff 1924

 

 

Rukmini Devi Arundale

1904 - 1986

 

1920 Future International President, George S Arundale marries Rukmini Devi. She is 16 at the time of the marriage and goes on to become a major player in the Theosophical Society’s affairs.

 

1923 This year is the high point for the “Order of the Star of the East” with a well supported convention in Vienna as part of the 1923 European Theosophical Society Congress.

 

 

George S Arundale and Rukmini Devi Arundale visit

Cardiff Theosophical Society in 1924

 

1925 Rudolf Steiner dies.

 

1926 Conflicts over Krishnamurti come to a head in January as members are called upon to embrace the New World Religion. Members resign and the possibility of a split in the Society emerges as some Lodges threaten to break away.

 

The Daily Sketch of January 14th 1926 reports concerns in India that Krishnamurti’s request that followers make the sign of the cross will lead to trouble on the streets.

 

1928 A P Warrington becomes Vice-President of the Society

 

1929 J. Krishnamurti, now aged 33, dissolves the "Order of the star of the East".

 

1930 J.J. van der Leeuw writes "Revelation or Realization".

 

1931 P.W. Bowen creates or reveals the Bowen Notes on study of the Secret Doctrine. The effect of this publication have yet to be fully assessed.

 The Work of Theosophists by C W Leadbeater 1931

George Lansbury

British Labour MP and leader of the opposition

Labour party during the Ramsey MacDonald

1931 – 35 National Coalition Government period

Probably the only Theosophist to meet Hitler

His uncompromising Pacifism raises

some difficult questions for Theosophists

 

Dr George S Arundale

 

1933 Annie Besant dies. George Sidney Arundale voted president of the Theosophical Society (Adyar).

More Info on George S Arundale

 

Nirvana

A Study in Synthetic Consciousness

G S Arundale

 

Kundalini

An Occult Experience

G S Arundale

 

Theosophy

The Way of Service

G S Arundale

 

1934        C W Leadbeater dies.

 

G S Arundale Broadcasts his Diamond Jubilee Message on

All India Radio in 1935

 

 

The Theosophy Stand at the 1938 Empire Exhibition in Scotland

 

Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 (unofficially known as the

British Empire Exhibition, Glasgow) was an international exposition

held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, from May to December 1938.

The Exhibition was intended to mark fifty years since Glasgow's

first great exhibition, the International Exhibition (1888) held at

Kelvingrove Park. It also offered a chance to boost the economy

of Scotland, recovering from the depression of the 1930s.

Despite 1938 being one of the wettest summers on record,

the Exhibition attracted 12 million visitors.

 

 

 

C Jinarajadasa

 

 

More info on C Jinarajadasa 1875 - 1953

 

 

The Future of The Theosophical Society By C Jinarajadasa 1930

 

1945 Dr. Arundale dies. Jinarâjadâsa elected president of the Theosophical Society (Adyar).

N Sri Ram

 

1953 Jinarajadasa dies and N. Sri Ram elected president of the Theosophical Society (Adyar).

 

More Info on N Sri Ram

 

1955 Rukmini Devi Arundale becomes Vice President of The International Vegetarian Union (IVU) at their World Congress in Paris and holds the position for 31 years until her death in 1986.

 

1973 N. Sri Ram dies and John Coats elected president of the Theosophical Society (Adyar).

 

John B S Coats

 

More info on John B S Coats

 

Dr Radha Burnier

1980 Radha Burnier is voted president of the Theosophical Society (Adyar).

 

Rukmini Devi Arundale 1904 -1986

 

1986 Rukmini Devi Arundale dies aged 82. Despite serious health problems in her later years, she always refused to be treated with medication that had been tested on animals.

 

1989 The Scandinavian break with the Adyar Theosophical Society begins. The Danish Theosophical Society voted in August 1989 for the creation of an independent Teosofisk Forening (Theosophical Union). Other lodges were integrated in this organisation. In November 1997 the name was changed to Theosophical Association Scandinavia (TAS). In August 2004 ten theosophical organisations from Denmark and Norway founded in Aarhus the Teosofisk Netværk or Teosofisk Nettverk (Theosophical Network)

 

1992 The Theosophical Society in Canada (Canadian Federation) breaks with Adyar. In 1995 there is a further division. The lodges in Edmonton and Calgary separate from the TS in Canada and form the independent Edmonton Theosophical Society. The remaining lodges in the Canadian Federation revert back to Adyar and change their name later to the Canadian Theosophical Association..

 

2008 Radha Burnier re-elected in the 2008 Adyar Presidential election.

 

 

The Candidates Radha Burnier & John Algeo

 

 

Find out how your Theosophy Group voted

Results & Voting Figures for the Adyar Theosophical Society

Presidential Election 2008

 

2010 Anger and Dismay at decision to sell Tekels Park to a developer. The Theosophical movement is shocked to hear the news the Theosophical Society in England’s Spirital Retreat, Tekels Park is to be sold to a developer.

 

Tekels Park is a 50 acre woodland park in Camberley, Surrey, England which was purchased for the Theosophical Society in England in 1929. Tekels Park has been the home of many Theosophical Groups including Camberley Lodge, the Esoteric Section, the Retreat Society and the Liberal Catholic Church.

 

Tekels Park has formed a sanctuary for wildlife and concerns are raised over the fate of the Tekels Park Deer. Although UK law gives Deer protection against cruelty, they are not a protected species and could be slaughtered. Part of Tekels Park is designated a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) but this also offers no statutory protection.

 

2010 February; Insight Magazine ceases publication. The Theosophical Society in England announces that Insight Magazine is to cease publication and to be replaced by a free journal to be distributed to members and the public.

 

History of Theosophy in Wales

Theosophy in the Context of Esoteric History

 

Cardiff Blavatsky Archive

 

Cardiff Theosophical Archive

 

Instant Guide to Theosophy

 

Great Theosophists

 

Theosophy in Wales

Return to Homepage

 

Cardiff Theosophical Society

206 Newport Road,

Cardiff, Wales, UK, CF24 -1DL

 

 

Try these links for

more info about Theosophy

 

 

 

Cardiff Theosophical Society meetings are informal

and there’s always a cup of tea afterwards

 

Theosophy

Cardiff

The Cardiff Theosophical Society Website

 

Theosophy

Wales

The National Wales Theosophy Website

 

 

Theosophy Cardiff’s Instant Guide to Theosophy

 

Cardiff Theosophical Archive

 

Cardiff Theosophy Start-Up

A Free Intro to Theosophy

 

Cardiff Blavatsky Archive

A Theosophy Study Resource

 

Theosophy Cardiff’s Gallery of Great Theosophists

 

Dave’s Streetwise Theosophy Boards

The Theosophy Website that welcomes

absolute beginners. If you run a

Theosophy Study Group, please feel free

to use any material on this site

 

Blavatsky Blogger

Independent Theosophy Blog

 

The Most Basic Theosophy

 Website in the Universe

A quick overview of Theosophy 

and the Theosophical Society

If you run a Theosophy Study Group you 

can use this as an introductory handout.

 

Quick Blasts of Theosophy

One liners and quick explanations

About aspects of Theosophy

 

Cardiff Theosophical Order of Service (TOS)

 

Ocean of Theosophy

William Quan Judge

 

Theosophy

Ernest Egerton Wood

 

Theosophy

Jinarajadasa

 

Theosophy in the UK

 

Within the British Isles, The Adyar Theosophical Society has Groups in;

 

Bangor*Basingstoke*Billericay*Birmingham*Blackburn*Bolton*Bournemouth

Bradford*Bristol*Camberley*Cardiff*Chester*Conwy*Coventry*Dundee*Edinburgh

Folkstone*Glasgow*Grimsby*Inverness*Isle of Man*Lancaster*Leeds*Leicester

Letchworth*London*Manchester*Merseyside*Middlesborough*Newcastle upon Tyne

North Devon*Northampton*Northern Ireland*Norwich*Nottingham

Perth*Republic of Ireland*Sidmouth*Southport*Sussex*Swansea*Torbay

Tunbridge Wells*Wallasey*Warrington*Wembley*Winchester*Worthing

 

The Blavatsky Blogger’s

Instant Guide To

Death & The Afterlife

 

Blavatsky Calling

The Voice of the Silence Website

 

The Blavatsky Free State

An Independent Theosophical Republic

Links to Free Online Theosophy 

Study Resources; Courses, Writings, 

Commentaries, Forums, Blogs

 

Feelgood

 Theosophy

Visit the Feelgood Lodge

The main criteria for the inclusion of

links on this site is that they have some

relationship (however tenuous) to Theosophy

and are lightweight, amusing or entertaining.

Topics include Quantum Theory and Socks,

Dick Dastardly and Legendary Blues Singers.

 

Theosophy

The New Rock ‘n Roll

An entertaining introduction to Theosophy

 

Hey Look!

Theosophy in Cardiff

 

Nothing answers questions

like Theosophy can!

The Key to Theosophy

 

Wales! Wales! Theosophy Wales

The All Wales Guide To

Getting Started in Theosophy

For everyone everywhere, not just in Wales

 

Brief Theosophical Glossary

 

Theosophy

Nirvana

 

The Akashic Records

It’s all “water under the bridge” but everything you do

makes an imprint on the Space-Time Continuum.

 

Theosophy and Reincarnation

A selection of articles on Reincarnation

by Theosophical writers

Provided in response to the large number of enquiries we

 receive at Cardiff Theosophical Society on this subject

 

Applied Theosophy

Henry Steel Olcott

 

Theosophical Glossary

prepared by W Q Judge

 

Death & How to Get Through It

Lentil burgers, a thousand press ups before breakfast and

the daily 25 mile run may put it off for a while but death

seems to get most of us in the end. We are pleased to

present for your consideration, a definitive work on the

subject by a Student of Katherine Tingley entitled

“Man After Death”

 

The South of Heaven Guide to

Theosophy and Devachan

 

The South of Heaven Guide to

Theosophy and Dreams

 

The South of Heaven Guide to

Theosophy and Angels

 

Theosophy and Help From

The Universe

 

Theosophy

Aardvark

No Aardvarks were harmed in the

preparation of this Website

 

Theosophy Avalon

The Theosophy Wales

King Arthur Pages

 

Theosophy Starts Here

 

The Tooting Broadway

Underground Theosophy Website

The Spiritual Home of Urban Theosophy

 

The Mornington Crescent

Underground Theosophy Website

The Earth Base for Evolutionary Theosophy

 

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H P Blavatsky’s Heavy Duty

Theosophical Glossary

Published 1892

A B C D EFG H IJ KL M N OP QR S T UV WXYZ

 

 

Complete Theosophical Glossary in Plain Text Format

1.22MB

 

___________________________

 

Classic Introductory Theosophy Text

A Text Book of Theosophy By C W Leadbeater

 

What Theosophy Is  From the Absolute to Man

 

The Formation of a Solar System  The Evolution of Life

 

The Constitution of Man  After Death  Reincarnation

 

The Purpose of Life  The Planetary Chains

 

The Result of Theosophical Study

 

_____________________

 

The Occult World

By Alfred Percy Sinnett

 

Preface to the American Edition    Introduction

 

Occultism and its Adepts    The Theosophical Society

 

First Occult Experiences   Teachings of Occult Philosophy

 

Later Occult Phenomena    Appendix

 

_________________________________

 

Elementary Theosophy

An Outstanding Introduction to Theosophy

By a student of Katherine Tingley

 

Elementary Theosophy  Who is the Man?  Body and Soul   

 

Body, Soul and Spirit  Reincarnation  Karma

 

The Seven in Man and Nature

 

The Meaning of Death

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                                  The Ocean of Theosophy

William Quan Judge

 

Preface    Theosophy and the Masters    General Principles

 

The Earth Chain    Body and Astral Body    Kama – Desire

 

Manas    Of Reincarnation    Reincarnation Continued

 

Karma    Kama Loka    Devachan    Cycles

 

Septenary Constitution Of Man

 

Arguments Supporting Reincarnation

 

Differentiation Of Species Missing Links

 

Psychic Laws, Forces, and Phenomena

 

Psychic Phenomena and Spiritualism

 

 

Instant Guide to Theosophy

Quick Explanations with Links to More Detailed Info

 

What is Theosophy ? Theosophy Defined (More Detail)

 

Three Fundamental Propositions  Key Concepts of Theosophy

 

Cosmogenesis  Anthropogenesis  Root Races  Karma

 

Ascended Masters  After Death States  Reincarnation

 

The Seven Principles of Man  Helena Petrovna Blavatsky

 

Colonel Henry Steel Olcott William Quan Judge

 

The Start of the Theosophical Society Theosophical Society Presidents

 

  Glossaries of Theosophical Terms

 

History of the Theosophical Society in Wales

 

The Three Objectives of the Theosophical Society

 

Explanation of the Theosophical Society Emblem

 

 

Try these if you are looking for a

local Theosophy Group or Centre

 

 

UK Listing of Theosophical Groups

 

Worldwide Directory of 

Theosophical Links

 

International Directory of 

Theosophical Societies

 

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Tekels Park

 

Tekels Park to be Sold to a Developer

Concerns are raised about the fate of the wildlife as

The Spiritual Retreat, Tekels Park in Camberley,

Surrey, England is to be sold to a developer

 

____________________

 

 

 

WALES

Pages About Wales

General pages about Wales, Welsh History

and The History of Theosophy in Wales

 

Wales is a Principality within the United Kingdom

and has an eastern border with England.

The land area is just over 8,000 square miles.

Snowdon in North Wales is the highest mountain at 3,650 feet.

The coastline is almost 750 miles long.

 The population of Wales as at the 2001 census is 2,946,200.

 

 

 

 

 

Theosophy in Wales

 

Pages about Wales

 

Theosophy UK

 

 

theosophycardiff.org