Theos-Talk Archives (March 1998 Message tt00190)

Blake was very devoted to the Theosophical Society as long as it was a free
thinking group devoted to the study of Swedenborg's writings.  Remember, Blake
like Swedenborg, was clairvoyant so he had insights into Swedenborg's teaching
that others would not have.  When the leaders of the Theosophical Society decided
to re-organize the study group into a religion (i.e. the Swedenborgian Church),
Blake resigned in protest.  So it was not an "impulse towards organization" that
Blake had contempt, but the impulse towards dogma.
jhe

Jeff Needle wrote:

> >
> Again, thanks for the insight!
>
> Blake certainly had contempt for the impulse toward organization,
> didn't he?
>
> Take care.
>
> > The group was in London, and poet William Blake was a member.
> > jhe
> >
> > Jeff Needle wrote:
> >
> > > > Dear Jeff,
> > > >
> > > > Yes, Swedenborg is considered a "theosophist" in the 18th century
> > > > meaning of that word. After Swedenborg's death, his followers formed an
> > > > organization dedicated to the study of his writings.  The organization
> > > > was called "The Theosophical Society."  sometime before 1825, it was
> > > > re-organized into today's Swedenborgian Church.  Of course, there is no
> > > > organizational connection between this and the Theosophical Society that
> > > > was founded by Blavatsky, Olcott, Judge and others in 1875.
> > > >
> > > > jhe
> > > >
> > > Very interesting!  Another bit of information that I'm glad to
> > > have.
> > >
> > > Do you happen to know where "The Theosophical Society" was
> > > organized?  Was it here in the US, was it in the UK?
> > >
> > > Thanks so much.
> > >