Theosophy in Wales; Ancient and Modern

Theosophy in Wales

Ancient & Modern

History of the Theosophical Society in Wales

Foundation of Cardiff Lodge 1911

The present Theosophical Society Lodge in Cardiff was granted its charter by Annie Besant on June 10^th 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 20^th 1917. This meeting in 1917 was the first move in the process that eventually established a separate Theosopical Society 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 based Theosophical Society is known to have been in existence in 1899. Another (Adyar) Lodge in Cardiff known as the Cardiff Dewi Saint 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 18^th 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 29^th 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 strictly exist as a separate entity from a British or England and Wales Section until the purchase of a permanent headquarters for Wales in Cardiff in 1926) 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 8^th 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 10^th 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 that his mother, grandmother, and great aunt in addition to his father were all associate members at the foundation of the Lodge.

On February 2^nd 1912 Mr W C James proposed the start of a 3^rd 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 4^th 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 14^th 1912 Letters on the subject appear in the south Wales Echo and the Barry Dock News.

Dec 19^th1912 The Daily News takes up the matter and an the Library Committee is compelled to review the situation.

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

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Theosophical Society, Cardiff Lodge,

206 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 – 1DL.