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Event I:
Principle of the Centennial Effort

Spiritual Event I:

The Centennial Effort of 1875, Occult revival in the West, founding of the TS.

Historical Consequences:

Influence of TS on art, spirituality and politics etc., long-term expectation, New Age.

Spiritual Precedents:

a) 1075, b) 1175, c) 1275, d) 1375, e) 1475, f) 1575, g) 1675 and h) 1775.

Historical Consequences:

a) the Crusades, b) Gothic Renaissance, c) High Middle Ages, d) Rosicrucian Underground, e) Italian Renaissance, f) English Renaissance, g) Scientific Revolution, h) Political Revolution.

From Blavatsky's The Key to Theosophy, last chapter in which she discussed the future of the TS:

"During the last quarter of every hundred years an attempt is made by those "Masters," of whom I have spoken, to help on the spiritual progress of Humanity in a marked and definite way. Towards the close of each century you will invariably find that an outpouring or upheaval of spirituality--or call it mysticism if you prefer--has taken place. Some one or more persons have appeared in the world as their agents, and a greater or less amount of occult knowledge and teaching has been given out. If you care to do so, you can trace these movements back, century by century, as far as our detailed historical records extend." (Full text of chapter)

From the third volume of the Secret Doctrine by Blavatsky:

"Among the commandments of Tsong-kha-pa there is one that enjoins the Rahats (Arhats) to make an attempt to enlighten the world, including the "white barbarians," every century, at a certain specified period of the cycle. Up to the present day none of these attempts has been very successful. Failure has followed failure."

(Tsong-ka-pha (1357-1419). Founder of the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism, the "Yellow Hats", the now most powerful sect, headed by the Dalai Lama. Started his own school in 1392.)

With this in mind let's look at some key dates and persons connected with the centennial effort of the 19th century:

 
Event I: 1875-1900 Occult Revival

1848

Beginning of Spiritualism in America with the Fox sisters.

1875

Founding of the Theosophical Society by H.P. Blavatsky, Col. H.S. Olcott, and W.Q. Judge.

1875

Publication of Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.

1877

Publication of Isis Unveiled by Blavatsky.

1888

Publication of the Secret Doctrine by Blavatsky.

1893

World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago.

Eliphas Lévi (pseud. for Anton Louis Constant. 1810-1875). French Kabbalist and Occultist.

Edward Bulwer Lytton (1803-1873). English novelist and Rosicrucian. His popular books helped to create a favorable climate for the reception of esoteric teachings.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1832-1891). Russian mage and writer. Principle founder of the TS. Instructed by the Masters of Wisdom. Wrote the Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled.

Henry Olcott (1832-1906). American lawyer, educator, healer and occultist. First President of the Theosophical Society. Instigator of a Buddhist revival in South and East Asia.

Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910). Religious teacher and spiritual healer. Founder of Christian Science.

Emma Curtis Hopkins. Spiritual healer. Started the New Thought tradition. Founder of the Christian Science Theological Seminary.

 
Historical consequences:

The TS had an inspiring influence on many leaders in different fields. Its influence has been acknowledged more and more and even has become a somewhat respectable subject of historical study. Some even want to include HPB in the list of the great influential minds of her days: Marx, Darwin, Freud and Nietzsche--something HPB herself might find a dubious honor.

art:

"Great poets and writers such as W.B.Yeats, George William Russel, Jack London, E.M.Forster, D.H.Lawrence, T.S.Elliot, James Joyce, Thornton Wilder and others are mentioned as being profoundly influenced by Theosophy... The occult dynamics of Theosophy are also evident in the paintings of Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, the Bauhaus mystics, Piet Mondriaan, and Nicholas Roerich. Moreover the music by Scriabin, Sibelius and Mahler would not have been written without the inspiration of Theosophy." (Sylvia Cranston The Extraordinary Life & Influence of Helena Blavatsky)

1880s

Buddhist and Hindu revival in South and East Asia. Henry Olcott.

1948

India's political independence. O.A.Hume, Indian Congress, Annie Besant, Gandhi, Nehru. This project stood high on the agenda of the Adepts.

 
 
Spiritual Precedents: The Gothic Renaissance 1075-1344

(combining the 1075, 1175 and 1275 efforts)

1070

Start of a rabbinical, cabalistic and esoteric school, headed by Rashi (Rabbi Solomon Ben Isaac 1040-1105) in Troyes, Champagne.

1095

First Crusade. Peter the Hermit, Godfroi de Bouillon, Hugues, Comte de Champagne and Raymond de Saint Gilles, Comte de Toulouse,

1099

Capture of Jerusalem

1099

Founding of the Order of Notre Dame de Sion by Godfroi de Bouillon.

1113-1115

Saint Bernard joins the Order of Cistercians at Cîteax with thirty of his relatives and friends. Founding abbot of Clairveaux.

1118

Official Founding of the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. Hughes de Payens, Geoffrey de St. Omer, André de Montbard, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and the Cistercians.

1128

Church council officially recognized and incorporated the Templars. Hugues de Payens first Grand-Master. Eulogy and Rule composed by Saint Bernard.

1128

St. Bernard starts translating the 'sacred geometry' of King Solomon's masons with help of Rashi's school. This art was obtained by the Templars in the Holy Land and passed on to St. Bernard.

1137-1250

Suger (1081-1151), abbot of Saint-Denis, was first to try out some of the key elements of Gothic architecture. Suger worked with St. Bernard to reconcile different factions in French feudal politics. Building of the Cathedrals and many other structures (+ 150 altogether acc. to Charpentier). Executed by the Children of Solomon, a guild of masons instructed by Cistercians and financed by Templars. Architecture based on sacred geometry.

1139

Papal bull by Pope Innocentius II (protégé of Saint Bernard and former Cistercian monk) declares Templars' sole allegiance is to the Pope.

1140-1170

Flowering of the Gnostic Cathars in Languedoc. Their mystic doctrines showed up in the poems of the Troubadours.

1130-1220

Coming and going of the Troubadours who sang in the Langue d'Oc. Troubadours flourished between 1170-1209 and inspired the north French Trouvères and German Minnesinger.

1145

Second Crusade. Instigated mainly by Saint Bernard.

1187

Battle at Hattin in Palestine, beginning of end of Frankish presence in the Holy Land. Grand Master of the Templars Gérard de Ridefort responsible for the debacle.

1180-1200

Publication of the esoteric Grail Romances. Chrétien de Troyes (sponsored by Marie, Contesse de Champagne), Wolfram von Eschenbach, and Robert de Borron. Some having a strong Cathar, Templar or Cistercian influence.

1210

Establishment of the order of Franciscans by St. Francis of Assisi (1180\2-1226). Approved by Pope Innocentius III (same pope who went after the Cathars).

1285

Detachment of Templars established itself on the summit of the mountain of Bézu, invited by Pierre de Voisins, lord of Bézu and Rennes-le-Château. Templars discovered and amplified the natural sacred geometry of the landscape?

Rashi or Rabbi Solomon Ben Isaac (1040-1105). Cabbalist and Bible commentator. Founder of a rabbinical, cabalistic and esoteric school in Troyes, France.

Godfroi de Bouillon (c. 1060-1100). Duke of Lower Lorraine. Leader of First Crusade. First western ruler of Jerusalem. Brother of Baldwin I, first western King of Jerusalem. Founder of the Order of Notre Dame de Sion, later named the Prieuré de Sion.

"...a vital link... indicating the dim configurations of some elaborately concealed design." HBHG-92:

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153). a) Abbot of Clairvaux, b) patron of the Templars, c) religious conscience of Europe, d) spokesman of Catholic Christianity, e) nephew of André de Montbard, f) lived in the domains of the Comte de Champagne, e) presided over the council of Troyes in 1128 to incorporate the Templars.

André de Montbard: a) uncle of Saint Bernard, b) member and later Grand Master of the Priory of Sion 1153-1170 , c) Founding member of the Templars with Comte de champagne + 1114, d) third Grand Master of the Templars 1153-1170 , e) lived in the domains of the Comte de Champagne.

Hugues, Comte de Champagne: a) Overlord of Saint Bernard and de Montbard, b) gave land to Bernard to build the abbey of Clairvaux, c) Founding member of the Templars with de Montbard, d) hosted the council of Troyes in 1128,

Hugues de Payens: a) Templars first Grand Master, b) cousin of the Comte de Champagne, c) initiated by Theocletes, Grand-Pontiff of the Order of the Temple of the Nazarene sect, into the "true version of the history of Jesus, and the early Christianity.... Freedom of intellectual thought and the restoration of one and universal religion was their secret object."

Roger Bacon (ca. 1220- ca. 1292). English philosopher, scientist and reformer. An adept according to HPB (BCW 11: 546).

 
1375-1400 The Rosicrucian Foundation

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321).  Italian poet inspired by the Provencal troubadours. "His `Inferno' a true Occult Revelation in verse." (BCW14:45).

Rulman Merswin (1307-1382). Founder of the Friends of God, a Christian esoteric movement.

Blanche d'Evruex (1332-1398). Wife of Philippe VI, king of France. Immersed in Alchemical studies and experiments; had laboratories in some of her castles. Personal patron of Nicolas Flamel.

Nicolas Flamel (1330-1418). French Alchemist with interest in Cabalistic and Hermetic thought. Sponsored by Blanche d'Evreux. Life transformed by Alchemical text found in 1362.

Christian Rosencreuz (1378?-1484?). German Magus. Alleged founder of the Order of the Rosy Cross, which aim was the study and application of ancient science, numerology and cosmic law. (HPB: +1250; CWL: 1375).

Cardinal Nicolas de Cusa (1401-1464). German Cardinal, scientist and Cabalist. Cusa was an Adept, reappearing as Copernicus (BCW14:377). Published De Docta Ignorantia, which "contains theosophical ideas throughout." BCW14:538.

 
1475-1500 The Occult Renaissance in Italy

1444

Founding of the Library of San Marco by Cosimo de Medici.

1448

Founding of the Order of the Crescent by René d'Anjou.

1471

Hermetic corpus translated by Ficino.

1475

End of the Hundred Years' War with a truce.

1492

(re-)Discovery of the new world by Columbus.

?

Founding of the Platonic Academy in Florence by Cosimo de Medici.

George Gemistus Pletho (1355-1452). Byzantine scholar and philosopher. Inspired Cosimo de Medici to found the Platonic Academy. Promoted Greeks like the philospher Plato and the geographer Strabo to the west, which had a profound influence on the Renaissance. (EB 10:65)

Cosimo de Medici (1389-1464). Virtual lord of Florence and patron of the arts. Influenced by René d'Anjou. Patron of Marsilio Ficino. Protector of the Platonic Academy in Florence. Founder of Europe's first public library, the San Marco Library.

Rene D'Anjou (1408-1480?). King of Naples and Sicily, and King of Jerusalem. Prompted Cosimo de Medici to acquire and translate Platonic, Cabalistic, Gnostic and Hermetic works. Founder of the Order of the Crescent. Sponsored Mantegna. Accompanied Joan of Arc (1412-1431) to Chinon, Orléans and Reims.

Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499). Italian philosopher, scholar (EB 9:237) and magus. Head of the Platonic Academy in Florence (1462). Translated the Hermetic corpus (1471), Plato (1484) and Plotinus (1492). Sponsored by Cosimo de Medici. Teacher of Lorenzo de Medici.

Andrea del Verrocchio (1435-1488). Italian sculptor and painter. Alchemist and hermeticist. Taught Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli.

Botticelli (1444-1510).  Italian painter. Studied under alchemist and hermeticist Verrocchio and Mantegna. Patronized by de Medici. Well acquainted with Leonardo da Vinci.

Lorenzo de Medici (1447-1492). Virtual lord of Florence and patron of the arts. Patron of Verrocchio, Botticelli, Pico della Mirandola.

Christopher Columbus (1451-1506). Spanish or Italian navigator and explorer. In the service of René d'Anjou in 1472-73 (EB). Married to daughter of a former Knight of Christ, who had charts and diaries. Sailed under the red pattée cross of the Knights of Christ, the renamed Knights Templars of Portugal. Incarnation of Saint Germain (ECP).

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). Italian artist, inventor and universal genius. Sponsored by de Medicis and Ludovico Sforza, son of Francesco Sforza, close friend of René d'Anjou. Member of the Order of the Crescent.

John Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494). Italian philosopher, scholar and magus. Sponsored by Lorenzo de Medici. Connected with the Platonic Academy. Strongly influenced by Ficino. Explored Cabalist magic. An adept according to HPB (BCW 4: 607).

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527). Philosopher and social scientist. Worked with da Vinci on modern science and study of politics and human nature. Founder of the philosophy of history and first to understand the doctrine of historical cycles (EB 14:520). Too often misjudged as immoral or cynical, M was passionate, generous, ardent and basically religious (EB 14:518).

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543). Polish astronomer, skilled medical practitioner, Adept, reincarnation of de Cusa (HPB). Studied at Bologna, Italy.

 
1525-1550 The Occult Renaissance in Germany

Agrippa von Nettesheim (1486-1535). German writer, physician and magus. Influenced by Pico. Influenced Giordano Bruno. An adept according to HPB (BCW 3: 264).

Paracelsus (1490-1541). Swiss physician, alchemist, chemist and magus. "Paracelsan Alchemy... derived its stimulus from the Renaissance Hermetic-Cabalist tradition" (GB-150). Influenced Giordano Bruno. An adept according to HPB (BCW 4: 607).

Henry Kunrath (ca. 1560-1601 or 1605). German alchemist and Hermeticist. Follower of Paracelsus. An adept according to HPB (BCW 3: 264).

1575-1600 The Occult Renaissance in England.

Thomas More (1478-1535). Pioneering English Neoplatonist. Incarnation of El Morya.

John Colet (1466?-1519). English Neoplatonist. Worked with More and his circle.

John Dee (1527-1608). English Mathematician, scientist and astrologer.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626). English philosopher of science and politician. Incarnation of Saint Germain.  Real author of Shakespearean corpus.

Giordano Bruno (1548-1600). Philosopher, writer and magus. Former incarnation of Annie Besant.

Tommaso Campanela (1568-1639). Italian philosopher, poet and magus.  

 1612-1622 Rosicrucian Interlude

1612

Publication of the Fama Fraternitatis.

1612

Publication of The Aurora by Boehme.

1613

Frederick marries Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of James I, king of England.

1615

Publication of the Confessio Fraternitatis.

1616

Publication of The Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosencreutz.

1618-1620

Insurrection of the Bohemian nobles against Ferdinand II. Frederick elected as king of Bohemia. Frederick lost at the battle of the White Mountain and flees to Holland.

Robert Fludd (1574-1637). England's leading exponent of Cabalist-Hermetic thought. Ardent defender of the Rosicrucians. Published two booklets (in 1616 and 1617) in order to get in contact with them. An adept according to HPB (BCW 4: 607).

Johann Valentin Andrea (1586-1654). Possible author of the Fama, the Confessio and The Chemical Wedding.

Michael Maier (1566-1622?). Germany's leading exponent of Rosicrucian thought. Connected with Fludd.

Jacob Boehme (1575-1624). German philosophical Mystic and Theosophist. Speculative Alchemist influenced by Paracelsus. Was in Prague when Frederick V entered the city in 1619.

Frederick V, Elector Palatine (1596-1632). His brief reign was a Hermetic Golden Age, during which the Rosicrucian furor took place.

1675-1700 Groundwork for the Age of Enlightenment

1619

Descartes formulates his first ideas, while serving at the Catholic army defeating Frederick at Prague, which ended the Rosicrucian renaissance!

1623-1625?

Open correspondence between Fludd and Mersenne

1637

Publication of Discourse on Method by Descartes

1645?

Founding of the `Invisible College.'

1663

Founding of The Royal Society in London

1683

Opening of the first public museum, the Ashmolean Museum by Elias Ashmole.

1687

Principia Mathematica by Isaac Newton

1689

Two Treatises on Government by John Locke

1690

Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Locke.

Marin Mersenne (1588-1648). French mathematician and theologian. Friend and supporter of Descartes. Clearinghouse for French philosophers, scientists, theologians, mathematicians etc. (like Hartlib in England). Educated at Jesuit college La Fléche. Critical of Renaissance Occultism.

Johann Comenius (1592-1670). Bohemian educator, writer and possibly Rosicrucian. Studied at Heidelberg with professors close to Frederick. Member of the Bohemian Brethren. Inspirer of the Royal Society. Corresponded with Andrea.

René Descartes (1596-1650). French philosopher, mathematician and Rosicrucian. During winter quarters in Bohemia D. had his famous dreams, "leading him towards the conviction that mathematics were the sole key to the understanding of nature." Heard about the Rosicrucians and was seen as one of them. Friend of Mersenne and connected with the Hartlib Circle. Educated at Jesuit college La Fléche. (Article about Descartes' status as a Rosicrucian and Rosicrucian connections)

Samuel Hartlib (1600-1662). German educational and agricultural reformer, Rosicrucian. Center of the Hartlib Circle of esotericists and scientists. Connected with Andrea, Descartes, Boyle and Newton.

Thomas Vaughn (1622-1666). English alchemist. Wrote under the pseudonym of Eugenius Philaletes. An adept according to HPB (BCW 4: 607).

Robert Boyle (1627-1691). English natural philosopher and pioneering chemist.  Member of the `Invisible College' and the Royal Society. Taught Alchemy to Newton. Friends with John Locke.

John Locke (1632-1704). English philosopher, initiator of the Age of Enlightenment and Reason in England and France, inspirer of the American Constitution. Friend of Newton. Did research on Mary Magdalen, Alchemy, and the Cathars.

Isaac Newton (1642-1727). English scientist and mathematician. President of the Royal Society. Strong interest in Alchemy and Hermeticism. Connected with some of Andrea's friends. Friends with leading Masonic figure Jean Desagulier, who was connected with pioneering Freemasons Chevalier Ramsay, James Anderson and Charles Radclyffe.

Elias Ashmole (16?? -1692). English antiquarian, collector and expert on chivalric orders. Freemason (1646). Founder of the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. "The last of Rosicrucians and alchemists." (HPB)

 
1775-1800 Age of Political Revolutions

1773

Boston Tea Party. Mostly Freemasons were involved.

1775-1781

American War of Independence. American army led by Freemason Washington. International diplomatic support organized by Freemason Franklin.

1776

Declaration of Independence. Majority of signers were Freemasons. Saint Germain was unknown person exhorting the assembly to sign the document (ECP).

1789

Washington elected first President of the USA. Inaugurated with Masonic honors.

George Washington (1732-1799). General, statesman, first President of the USA. Freemason. Influenced the elaborate esoteric geometry governing the layout of the capital.

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Third President of the USA. Principle author of the Declaration of Independence. Political philosopher.

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). American author, inventor, scientist and diplomat. One of the best known and admired man of his time (EB 9:802). Member of the Royal Society. Master of the influential French Lodge `Neuf Soeurs.' Freemason.

Comte de Saint Germain (1660\95?-?). Mystic, occultist, philosopher and diplomat. The greatest Oriental Adept Europe has seen during the last centuries (HPB). Probably the son of Ferenc Rakoczy II (1676-1735), Prince of Transylvania. Templar Freemason. Worked with Anton Mesmer (1734-1815). Eminence Gris behind the American Revolution. An adept according to HPB (BCW 4: 607).

Emmanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772). Swedish scientist, mystic, philosopher and theologian.

Karl Gotthelf von Hund ( -1776). German Freemason. Introduced the `Strict Templar Observance,' with its `Unknown Superiors.'

Some Continuous Threads

The Guardians of the Wisdom Religion. The Mahatmas releasing strategic impulses in the form of teachings and/or agents. Tsong-Kapha's centennial effort for the west. References to unknown superiors in the secret societies. References to the importance of the east.

The Will to Freedom. Continuing efforts to establish religious, scientific, political and economic freedom. Saint Bernard proclaiming freedom of opinion in all matters not determined by faith (EB 3:524). Incarnations of Saint Germain working for a New Atlantis: Columbus, Francis Bacon, Comte de Saint Germain. Freemasons' stance for religious freedom and tolerance. John Locke developing political philosophy for a Republic of free man. Jefferson's Declaration of Independence. The principled commitment of the Theosophical Society to freedom of thought.

Incarnations of the European Adept Saint Germain. Roger Bacon, Christian Rosenkreuz, Francis Bacon, Le Comte de Saint Germain. Abiding interest of one Adept for the well-being of Europe. Promoted science, occultism and the establishment of a New Atlantis in the new world.

 
The Four Ages

1075-1344

The Age of the Templars, or the Gothic Age

1375-1618

The Age of the Rosy Cross, or the Renaissance

1618-1850

The Age of the Freemasons, or the Enlightenment

1851-2000

The Age of the Mahatmas, or the Theosophical Enlightenment

See Diagram of the Centennial Efforts

 

 © 1999 Govert Schüller

 

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