The Theosophical Society (Pasadena) is a branch of

Theosophy Theosophy is a religion established in the United States during the late 19th century. It was founded primarily by the Russian Helena Blavatsky and draws its teachings predominantly from Blavatsky's writings. Categorized by scholars of religion ...

based in Pasadena, California. It claims to be the successor organization to the original Theosophical Society founded by

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, uk, Олена Петрівна Блаватська, Olena Petrivna Blavatska (; – 8 May 1891), often known as Madame Blavatsky, was a Russian mystic and author who co-founded the Theosophical Society in 1875 ...

and others in 1875 in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

. Currently is the second largest Theosophical group in members and international reach after the

Theosophical Society Adyar The Theosophy Society was founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and others in 1875. The designation 'Adyar' is sometimes added to the name to make it clear that this is the Theosophical Society headquartered there, after the American section ...

. It traces its roots to the line of

William Quan Judge William Quan Judge (April 13, 1851 – March 21, 1896) was an Irish-American mystic, esotericist, and occultist, and one of the founders of the original Theosophical Society. He was born in Dublin, Ireland. When he was 13 years old, his famil ...

established Leader in 1895 was recognized by a portion of The Society after Blavatsky's death due to a dispute surrounding Annie Besant regarding the existence of The Masters. The juxtaposed positions are put as this: he was either "faithful to the teachings of the Mahatmas" (the stance of the modern Pasadena organization) or as Besant claimed, had forged the letters claiming them to be from the Mahatmas (the stance of the modern Adyar organization). The corresponding faction led by

Henry Steel Olcott Colonel Henry Steel Olcott (2 August 1832 – 17 February 1907) was an American military officer, journalist, lawyer, Freemason and the co-founder and first president of the Theosophical Society. Olcott was the first well-known American of Euro ...

and Annie Besant, whose organization, based in India, is known today as the Theosophical Society - Adyar. Judge led the American group for nearly a year prior to his sudden death in 1896 while traveling across India, at which time

Katherine Tingley Katherine Augusta Westcott Tingley (July 6, 1847 - July 11, 1929) was a social worker and prominent Theosophist. She led the American Section of the Theosophical Society after W. Q. Judge. She founded and led the Theosophical community Lomala ...

became Leader. Although initially supported by Ernest Temple Hargorve, he and a group of roughly 200 members disputed Tingley's leadership chose to secede and formed a new faction of the Brotherhood, dubbed the

Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove) The Theosophical Society in America (Hargrove branch) was an organization that developed from the Theosophical Society in America. In 1895 a division occurred between the Theosophical Society Adyar and the Theosophical Society Pasadena, leading W ...

. In 1900 Tingley moved the Theosophical Society's headquarters from New York City to

Lomaland Lomaland was a Theosophical community located in Point Loma in San Diego, California from 1900 to 1942. Theosophical Society leader Katherine Tingley founded it in 1900 as a school, cultural center, and residential facility for her followers. T ...

Point Loma, San Diego Point Loma (Spanish: ''Punta de la Loma'', meaning "Hill Point"; Kumeyaay: ''Amat Kunyily'', meaning "Black Earth") is a seaside community within the city of San Diego, California. Geographically it is a hilly peninsula that is bordered on the ...

located in

Southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban a ...

. It later moved to

Covina Covina is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, about east of downtown Los Angeles, in the San Gabriel Valley. The population was 51,268 according to the 2020 census, up from 47,796 at the 2010 census. The city's slogan, "On ...

in Los Angeles County in 1942, and finally found a home in Altadena, California in 1945.

Max Heindel Max Heindel (born Carl Louis von Grasshoff, July 23, 1865 – January 6, 1919) was a Danish American Christian occultist, astrologer, and mystic. Early infancy He was born in Aarhus, Denmark, into the noble family von Grasshoff, which was con ...

was vice president during 1904 and 1905. Leaders of The Theosophical Society Pasadena have included

Gottfried de Purucker Gottfried de Purucker (January 15, 1874, Suffern, New York – September 27, 1942) was a Theosophy (Blavatskian), Theosophist, author and leader of the Theosophical Society Pasadena (then headquartered at Lomaland, Point Loma, California) from 19 ...

, 1929–42;

Arthur L. Conger Arthur Latham Conger Jr. (January 30, 1872 – February 22, 1951) was an officer in the United States Army and an author and editor. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, Philippine–American War, Boxer Rebellion, Pancho Villa Expedition, a ...

, 1945-51; James A. Long (1951-1971); Grace Knoche (1971-2006); and Randell Grubb (since 2006). The Theosophical Society of Pasadena devotes the majority of their time in the furthering of the realization of the Divine Wisdom. Making available the majority of Theosophical texts available online via their online location theosociety.org, http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/ts/h_tsintro.htm

References

* Greenwalt, Emmett A. (1978). ''California Utopia: Point Loma, 1897 to 1942''. San Diego: Point Loma Publications. .
Theosophical Society (Pasadena)
Theosophical Society Organizations based in Pasadena, California Religious organizations based in the United States Spiritual organizations Religious organizations established in 1945 1945 establishments in California {{reli-org-stub de:Theosophische Gesellschaft in Amerika#Theosophische Gesellschaft Pasadena

See also

References