Theosophy

In

Wales

Ancient & Modern

 

 

History of Theosophy in Wales

 

 

Foundation of

Cardiff Lodge 1911

 

From first meetings in 1908 Cardiff Lodge affiliated itself

to the Adyar Theosophical Society in 1911 and has

continued uninterrupted to the present day.

The intervening years have seen many changes in the Theosophical Movement in Wales including its

establishment as an independent entity and the sadly

missed Welsh National Society, which existed from

1922 to 1990 and which had the power to influence

Adyar policy at European and international level.

 

 

Return to History Index

 

 

 

The present Theosophical Society Lodge in Cardiff applied for and was granted its charter by Annie Besant on June 10th 1911. Original minutes from 1911 still exist records and its workings are referred to in the minutes of the first Executive Committee meeting of the South Wales Group of the T.S. in England and Wales held on October 20th 1917. This meeting in 1917 was the first move in the process that eventually established a separate Adyar Theosophical organisation in Wales.

 

The present Lodge was the earliest known chartered Lodge of the Adyar based Theosophical Society in Cardiff although various groups are known to have existed prior to 1911 and a Lodge of the Point Loma, Pasadena based Theosophical Society is known to have been in existence in 1895. Another (Adyar) Lodge in Cardiff known as the Cardiff Dewi Sant Lodge was given a charter in 1921 but the Lodge was dissolved in 1928 for reasons which are unknown.

 

References have been found to Lodges in Penarth 1891, Cardiff 1894 and a Blavatsky Lodge in Cardiff around the same time but these were self styled Lodges and not chartered officially within the Adyar organization although they were certainly formed by paid up Society members.

 

Cardiff Lodge Gets off the Ground

 

A meeting was held on March 18th 1911 with Basil Stevenson Howell in the chair and it was decided that a suitable room should be hired for meetings. For the Lodge Miss B de Norman would be secretary and Mrs O S Stevenson Howell would be librarian.

 

On April 29th 1911 it was proposed that members pay 1/- (5p) per month and that associated members pay the same. The difference between the two grades on membership is unclear but suggests that approval was required for full Lodge membership. There would be fortnightly public meetings and a weekly study group. It was decided that the Lodge would apply for a charter from Adyar.

 

A charter was subsequently applied for with the following officials in office

Rev. Tyssul Davies - Lodge President

Mr Patrick - Vice President

Miss B de Norman - Secretary

Mr B Stevenson Howell – Treasurer

 

Mrs O S Stevenson Howell & Miss B Norman were elected as delegated to the Southern Federation of the T.S. in England and Wales (Theosophical groups in Wales did not exist as a separate entity from a British or England and Wales Section until the formation of the Welsh National Society of the Theosophical Society in 1922) It is known that in September 1916 a meeting of groups I and III of the Southern Federation was held at 4 St Margaret’s Terrace, Cheltenhan, Glos. Cardiff Lodge was part of Group I which included Newport Swansea and Penarth.

 

Early Lodge Meetings

 

The first official Lodge meeting was held at Duke Street Chambers, Cardiff with Tyssul Davies in the chair. There were problems with finance and Peter Freeman proposed that all those who could afford to pay more than 1/- per month should do so.

 

On November 8th 1911 It is recorded that furnishing the meeting room was putting too much of a strain on the finances and Peter Freeman offered to loan the Lodge £10 to be repaid over 2 years. Arnold Freeman (Peters brother) offer to conduct lectures in several town the following February. Arnold Freeman is believed to be the engineer responsible for the design of Sidney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

 

On December 10th 1911 Mr H Trammel was asked to take charge of advertising with a budget of 10/- (50p) per lecture. Mr W C James, the father of leading Welsh Theosophist Charles James (1913 -2000), became a full member of the Lodge. It is known from Charles James (1913 – 2000) that his mother, grandmother, and great aunt in addition to his father were all associate members at the foundation of the Lodge.

 

On February 2nd 1912 Mr William Charles James (Father of Charles James) proposed the start of a 3rd Object group

 

 

Known Events

 

May 1912 Lady Emily Lutyens delivered a lecture at Penarth Public Library entitled “The Riddle of Life and how Theosophy Unveils it”. Local papers reported the event.

 

Dec 1912 Lecture at Woodland Hall, Penarth by an unnamed speaker on the subject of Reincarnation.

 

Library Venue Causes Controversy

 

Dec 4th 1912 There was a complaint in the Western Mail by the Rev. Chas Halden about the Theosophical Society being allowed to lecture in Penarth Public Library when certain religions were excluded from the venue. This correspondence continued over a few days.

 

Dec 14th 1912 Letters on the subject appear in the south Wales Echo and the Barry Dock News.

 

Dec 19th  1912 The Daily News takes up the matter and an the Library Committee is compelled to review the situation.

 

Dec 26th 1912 Publication of the Objects of the Society in the Penarth Time settles the matter

 

 

Return to History Index

 

 

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 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 Website

 

Wales! Wales! Theosophy Wales

The All Wales Guide to

 Getting Started in Theosophy

This is for everybody not just people in Wales

 

Theosophy Wales 2008 Changes

A new structure for the

Theosophical Movement in Wales

 

Hey Look!

Theosophy in Cardiff

 

Theosophy Cardiff Burn-Up

 

Theosophy in Wales

The Grand Tour

 

Theosophy Avalon

The Theosophy Wales

King Arthur Pages

 

Hey Look!

Theosophy in Wales

 

Ocean of Theosophy

William Quan Judge

 

Blavatsky Blogger

Independent Theosophy Blog

 

Cardiff Theosophical Order of Service

TOS

 

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

 

The Blavatsky Blogger’s

Instant Guide To

Death & The Afterlife

 

 

 

Theosophy Donkey

 

Blavatsky Calling

The Voice of the Silence Website

 

Theosophy

Nirvana

 

Cardiff Theosophy Start-Up

A Free Intro to Theosophy

 

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

 

Nothing answers questions

like Theosophy can!

The Key to Theosophy

 

Brief Theosophical Glossary

 

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 on this subject

 

Theosophical Glossary

prepared by W Q Judge

 

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 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

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

 

____________________________________

 

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

 

___________________________

 

Theosophy Wales Centre

The Ocean of Theosophy

By William Quan Judge

 

Theosophy Cardiff Nirvana Pages

 

National Wales Theosophy

Karma Pages

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

WALES

Pages About Wales

General pages about Wales, Welsh History

and The History of Theosophy in Wales

 

 

Conwy Castle

North Wales Coast

 

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 Wales

 

Theosophy UK

 

Hey Look!

Theosophy in Cardiff

theosophycardiff.org