New Age before the New Age?

This volume contains 12 issues of "The Theosophical Messenger", also called "The American Theosophist". They were published from October 1910 to September 1911. I skimmed six of the issues. The magazine was published by the American section of the Theosophical Society Adyar, led by Annie Besant and C. W. Leadbeater.

What strikes the reader almost immediately are the similarities between Adyar Theosophy and later New Age thinking. Indeed, Theosophy is one of the fonts of inspiration for the New Age. "The Theosophical Messenger" is very syncretistic (or broad-minded). Apart from material based on Blavatsky's "The Secret Doctrine" about planetary chains and root-races, there are articles on the esoteric interpretation of the Catholic mass, Plato, Appolonius of Tyana, Christian knighthood and the Holy Grail, vampires, ghosts, Co-Masonry and Tibet. There is even a positive appreciation of Francis Bacon. The Lords of Venus (transformed into UFO occupants by later contactees) are mentioned, as is Shamballa. More surprising are pro-Muslim articles written by Annie Besant. Ironically, one issues of the magazine carriers a portrait of Muhammad! Ooops.

The extensive activities of the Adyar organization are evident from several articles about Esperanto, including the announcement of an Esperanto League of the TS Order of Service. The Theosophists also express support for the peace movement, for reformist socialism and (of course) for Hinduism and Buddhism. However, demands for Home Rule in India are absent. Besant presumably still kept a low political profile (that would change a few years later).

The magazine also contains very bizarre material. The second coming of Christ is said to be imminent. Of course, "Christ" was really Jiddu Krishnamurti, an Indian Brahmin boy discovered by Leadbeater. Leadbeater's clairvoyant investigations "revealed" that Krishnamurti alias Alcyone had lived countless of previous lives, and these are meticulously documented. Here, the syncretism is more absurd than usual, with Alcyone's friends in Atlantis (?) having names such as Surya, Herakles, Mars, and so on. Leadbeater also claims that the famous 14th century Tibetan guru Tsong-kha-pa was a reincarnation of Jesus!

Sometimes, it's difficult to know whether an article is a piece of fiction or a supposed clairvoyant insight. Thus, Besant writes concerning Atlantis: "The last White Emperor was ruling, at the time of the story, in the old, old Capital City of the Golden Gate in Poseidonis; but some of the outlying nations were gradually banding themselves together under the mighty chieftain Oduarpa, to overthrowthe White Emperor and the traditional worship of the Sun. These kingdoms had become corrupt, wicked and selfish, and their priests served the Dark Gods of the Nether World. To bring about the downfall of the central empire and its ruler, Oduarpa saw that he must bring to his aid the forbidden powers of the darker magic, and to enlist in his rebellion the denizens of the Kingdom of Pan." Sounds like the prelude from a fantasy novel...

I also managed to find a couple of pieces that were self-ironic, presumably a rare trait in occult groups. One lecturer claims that his malfunctioning slide projector must be possessed by an evil spirit, while another says that he isn't coming back to North America in his next incarnation, due to all the blizzards!

Overall, "The American Theosophist" gives the impression of a movement that attempts to propagandize an esoteric message among the broad masses, for good or for worse. The whole thing feels very "astral", with spirits of the dead, demons and channelling. Occasionally, a more truly esoteric piece has been sneaked in. While I prefer Adyar to the group based at Point Loma, I must say that Adyar's gospel sounds like spirituality 101, combined with the absurdities typical of channelled messages. Overall, I would probably make a bad Theosophist...