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G. R. S. Mead

January 01, 1970

George Robert Stow Mead (22 March 1863 in London[1] – 28 September 1933 in London[1]) was an English historian, writer, editor, translator, and an influential member of the Theosophical Society, as well as the founder of the Quest Society. His works dealt with various religious and philosophical texts and traditions, including Neoplatonism, Hermeticism and Gnosticism.

G. R. S. Mead.

Birth and family edit

Mead was born in Peckham, Surrey, England, to British Army Colonel Robert Mead and his wife Mary (née Stow), who had received a traditional education at Rochester Cathedral School.

Education at Cambridge University edit

Mead began studying mathematics at St John's College, Cambridge.[2] Eventually shifting his education towards the study of Classics, he gained much knowledge of Greek and Latin. In 1884 he completed a BA degree; in the same year he became a public school master. He received an MA degree in 1926.[3]

Activity with the Theosophical Society edit

While still at Cambridge University Mead read Esoteric Buddhism (1883) by Alfred Percy Sinnett, which presumably prompted his initial interest in Theosophy and led him to join Helena Petrovna Blavatsky's Theosophical Society in 1884.

After becoming Blavatsky's private secretary in 1889, Mead was elected as the general secretary (jointly with Bertram Keightley) of the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society as well as one of twelve members of its Inner Group. Mead met Laura Mary Cooper (later to become his wife) in the latter group, and attended all but one of the total of twenty meetings held for its members.[4]

Together with Annie Besant, Mead was the last editor of the Theosophical magazine Lucifer (renamed The Theosophical Review in 1897) and served as the magazine's sole editor between 1907 and 1909, when it became defunct due to Mead leaving the Theosophical Society.[5]

As of February 1909, Mead and some 700 members of the British Section of the Theosophical Society's British Section resigned in protest of Annie Besant's reinstatement of Charles Webster Leadbeater to membership in the society. Leadbeater had been a prominent member of the Theosophical Society until he was accused in 1906 of teaching masturbation to, and sexually touching,[6] the sons of some American Theosophists under the guise of occult training. While this prompted Mead's resignation, his frustration at the dogmatism of the Theosophical Society may also have been a major contributor to his break after 25 years.

The Quest Society edit

In March 1909 Mead founded the Quest Society, composed of 150 defectors of the Theosophical Society and 100 other new members. This new society was planned as an undogmatic approach to the comparative study and investigation of religion, philosophy, and science. The Quest Society presented lectures at the old Kensington Town Hall in central London but its most focused effort was in its publishing of The Quest: A Quarterly Review which ran from 1909 to 1931 with many historically important contributors.

Influence edit

Notable persons influenced by Mead include Ezra Pound, W. B. Yeats, Hermann Hesse, Kenneth Rexroth, and Robert Duncan. The influence of G.R.S. Mead on Carl Gustav Jung has been suggested by Gnosticism scholar and a friend of Jung's, Gilles Quispel, and the issue has been further discussed by a number of scholars.[5][7][8][9] Being the first individual to provide an English translation of the Gnostic text Pistis Sophia, Mead played an important role in the popularization of the notion of "Gnosis" as an important facet of ancient Gnosticism, as well as general concept in religions across time and space.[10][8][9][11]

Works edit

  • Address read at H.P. Blavatsky's cremation (1891)
  • Simon Magus (London: Theosophical Publ. Soc'y, 1892)
  • The Word-Mystery: Four Essays (London: Theosophical Publ. Soc'y, 1895), revised as The Word-Mystery: Four Comparative Studies in General Theosophy (London: Theosophical Publ. Soc'y, 1907)
  • Select Works of Plotinus (Lonson: George Bell, 1896)
  • Orpheus (London: Theosophical Publ. Soc'y, 1896)
  • Pistis Sophia: The Book of the Saviour (London: J.M. Watkins, 1896; revised 2nd ed. 1921)
  • Fragments of a Faith Forgotten (London: Theosophical Publ. Soc'y 1900)
  • Apollonius of Tyana (London: Theosophical Publ. Soc'y, 1901)
  • Did Jesus Live 100 BC? (London: Theosophical Publ. Soc'y, 1903)
  • "Concerning H.P.B.: Stray Thoughts on Theosophy", The Theosophical Review (April 15, 1904), pp. 131–44
  • The Corpus Hermeticum (1905)
  • Thrice Greatest Hermes: Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis (London: Theosophical Publ. Soc'y, 1906)
    • Volume 1
    • Volume 2
    • Volume 3
  • Echoes from the Gnosis (11-part series published at London by The Theosophical Publ. Soc'y):
    • Volume I: The Gnosis of the Mind (1906)
    • Volume II: The Hymns of Hermes (1906)
    • Volume III: GRS Mead: The Vision Of Aridæus (1907)
    • Volume IV: The Hymn of Jesus (1907)
    • Volume V: The Mysteries Of Mithra (1907)
    • Volume VI: A Mithraic Ritual (1907)
    • Volume VII: The Gnostic Crucifixion (1907)
    • Volume VIII: The Chaldæan Oracles Vol. 1 (1907)
    • Volume IX: The Chaldæan Oracles Vol. 2 (1907)
    • Volume X: The Hymn of the Robe of Glory (1907)
    • Volume XI: The Wedding Song of Wisdom (1907)
  • Some Mystical Adventures (London: John M. Watkins, 1910)
  • Quests Old and New (London: Watkins, 1913)
  • Doctrine of the Subtle Body in Western Tradition (London: J.M. Watkins, 1919)
  • Gnostic John the Baptizer: Selections from the Mandæan John-Book (London: Watkins, 1924)

COLLECTION

  • G.R.S. Mead: Essays and Commentaries ed. S.N. Parsons (Adeptis Press, 2016)

See also edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b Gilbert, R.A. (2004). "Mead, George Robert Stow". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/53879. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ "Mead, George Robert Stow (MT881GR)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  3. ^ Search results lib.cam.ac.uk
  4. ^ Spierenburg, Henk (1985). The Inner Group Teachings of H.P. Blavatsky. To Her Personal Pupils, 1890-91: a Reconstruction of the Teachings. Point Loma Publications Inc. ISBN 9780913004470.
  5. ^ a b Goodrick-Clarke, Clare and Nicholas (2005). G.R.S. Mead and the Gnostic Quest. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic books. pp. 27–31, 176. ISBN 1-55643-572-X.
  6. ^ "The Case against C. W. Leadbeater – T H E O S O P H Y". 5 April 2016.
  7. ^ Tilton, Hereward (2017). "Gnosis of the Eternal Æon: Jung, G. R. S. Mead and the Serpentine Path of the Soul" (PDF). Quaderni di Studi Indo-Mediterranei. 10: 243–261.
  8. ^ a b Gruffman, Paulina (2020). The Quest for Gnosis : G. R. S. Mead's Conception of Theosophy. Stockholm University, Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet. pp. 2n7. OCLC 1261903242.
  9. ^ a b Robertson, David G. (2022). Gnosticism and the History of Religions. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 56. doi:10.5040/9781350137721. ISBN 978-1-350-13769-1.
  10. ^ Burns, Dylan (2019). Hanegraaff (ed.). Weren't early Christians up against a gnostic religion?. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press. ISBN 9789463720205. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Linjamaa, Paul (2022). "The Reception of Pistis Sophia and Gnosticism. Uncovering the Link Between Esoteric Milieus and Contemporary Academia". Aries. doi:10.1163/15700593-20211003. S2CID 246516437.

External links edit

 
Wikiquote has quotations related to G. R. S. Mead.
  • Works by G. R. S. Mead at Project Gutenberg
  • Free, downloadable online text edition of Orpheus
  • Extensive on-line collection of the writings of GRS Mead (at the Gnosis Archive)
  • Brief bio with poor picture
  • Same picture, but much larger and clearer
  • Later Picture with no text

January 01, 1970
mead, george, robert, stow, mead, march, 1863, london, september, 1933, london, english, historian, writer, editor, translator, influential, member, theosophical, society, well, founder, quest, society, works, dealt, with, various, religious, philosophical, te. George Robert Stow Mead 22 March 1863 in London 1 28 September 1933 in London 1 was an English historian writer editor translator and an influential member of the Theosophical Society as well as the founder of the Quest Society His works dealt with various religious and philosophical texts and traditions including Neoplatonism Hermeticism and Gnosticism G R S Mead Contents 1 Birth and family 2 Education at Cambridge University 3 Activity with the Theosophical Society 4 The Quest Society 5 Influence 6 Works 7 See also 8 Footnotes 9 External linksBirth and family editMead was born in Peckham Surrey England to British Army Colonel Robert Mead and his wife Mary nee Stow who had received a traditional education at Rochester Cathedral School Education at Cambridge University editMead began studying mathematics at St John s College Cambridge 2 Eventually shifting his education towards the study of Classics he gained much knowledge of Greek and Latin In 1884 he completed a BA degree in the same year he became a public school master He received an MA degree in 1926 3 Activity with the Theosophical Society editWhile still at Cambridge University Mead read Esoteric Buddhism 1883 by Alfred Percy Sinnett which presumably prompted his initial interest in Theosophy and led him to join Helena Petrovna Blavatsky s Theosophical Society in 1884 After becoming Blavatsky s private secretary in 1889 Mead was elected as the general secretary jointly with Bertram Keightley of the Esoteric Section of the Theosophical Society as well as one of twelve members of its Inner Group Mead met Laura Mary Cooper later to become his wife in the latter group and attended all but one of the total of twenty meetings held for its members 4 Together with Annie Besant Mead was the last editor of the Theosophical magazine Lucifer renamed The Theosophical Review in 1897 and served as the magazine s sole editor between 1907 and 1909 when it became defunct due to Mead leaving the Theosophical Society 5 As of February 1909 Mead and some 700 members of the British Section of the Theosophical Society s British Section resigned in protest of Annie Besant s reinstatement of Charles Webster Leadbeater to membership in the society Leadbeater had been a prominent member of the Theosophical Society until he was accused in 1906 of teaching masturbation to and sexually touching 6 the sons of some American Theosophists under the guise of occult training While this prompted Mead s resignation his frustration at the dogmatism of the Theosophical Society may also have been a major contributor to his break after 25 years The Quest Society editIn March 1909 Mead founded the Quest Society composed of 150 defectors of the Theosophical Society and 100 other new members This new society was planned as an undogmatic approach to the comparative study and investigation of religion philosophy and science The Quest Society presented lectures at the old Kensington Town Hall in central London but its most focused effort was in its publishing of The Quest A Quarterly Review which ran from 1909 to 1931 with many historically important contributors Influence editNotable persons influenced by Mead include Ezra Pound W B Yeats Hermann Hesse Kenneth Rexroth and Robert Duncan The influence of G R S Mead on Carl Gustav Jung has been suggested by Gnosticism scholar and a friend of Jung s Gilles Quispel and the issue has been further discussed by a number of scholars 5 7 8 9 Being the first individual to provide an English translation of the Gnostic text Pistis Sophia Mead played an important role in the popularization of the notion of Gnosis as an important facet of ancient Gnosticism as well as general concept in religions across time and space 10 8 9 11 Works editAddress read at H P Blavatsky s cremation 1891 Simon Magus London Theosophical Publ Soc y 1892 The Word Mystery Four Essays London Theosophical Publ Soc y 1895 revised as The Word Mystery Four Comparative Studies in General Theosophy London Theosophical Publ Soc y 1907 Select Works of Plotinus Lonson George Bell 1896 Orpheus London Theosophical Publ Soc y 1896 Pistis Sophia The Book of the Saviour London J M Watkins 1896 revised 2nd ed 1921 Fragments of a Faith Forgotten London Theosophical Publ Soc y 1900 Apollonius of Tyana London Theosophical Publ Soc y 1901 Did Jesus Live 100 BC London Theosophical Publ Soc y 1903 Concerning H P B Stray Thoughts on Theosophy The Theosophical Review April 15 1904 pp 131 44 The Corpus Hermeticum 1905 Thrice Greatest Hermes Studies in Hellenistic Theosophy and Gnosis London Theosophical Publ Soc y 1906 Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 Echoes from the Gnosis 11 part series published at London by The Theosophical Publ Soc y Volume I The Gnosis of the Mind 1906 Volume II The Hymns of Hermes 1906 Volume III GRS Mead The Vision Of Aridaeus 1907 Volume IV The Hymn of Jesus 1907 Volume V The Mysteries Of Mithra 1907 Volume VI A Mithraic Ritual 1907 Volume VII The Gnostic Crucifixion 1907 Volume VIII The Chaldaean Oracles Vol 1 1907 Volume IX The Chaldaean Oracles Vol 2 1907 Volume X The Hymn of the Robe of Glory 1907 Volume XI The Wedding Song of Wisdom 1907 Some Mystical Adventures London John M Watkins 1910 Quests Old and New London Watkins 1913 Doctrine of the Subtle Body in Western Tradition London J M Watkins 1919 Gnostic John the Baptizer Selections from the Mandaean John Book London Watkins 1924 COLLECTION G R S Mead Essays and Commentaries ed S N Parsons Adeptis Press 2016 See also editPoemandres Gospel of Marcion Pistis Sophia Thomas Taylor Hermetica Acts of John Mandaeanism Marcionism Mohini Mohun Chatterji Hymn of the PearlFootnotes edit a b Gilbert R A 2004 Mead George Robert Stow Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 53879 Subscription or UK public library membership required Mead George Robert Stow MT881GR A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Search results lib cam ac uk Spierenburg Henk 1985 The Inner Group Teachings of H P Blavatsky To Her Personal Pupils 1890 91 a Reconstruction of the Teachings Point Loma Publications Inc ISBN 9780913004470 a b Goodrick Clarke Clare and Nicholas 2005 G R S Mead and the Gnostic Quest Berkeley CA North Atlantic books pp 27 31 176 ISBN 1 55643 572 X The Case against C W Leadbeater T H E O S O P H Y 5 April 2016 Tilton Hereward 2017 Gnosis of the Eternal AEon Jung G R S Mead and the Serpentine Path of the Soul PDF Quaderni di Studi Indo Mediterranei 10 243 261 a b Gruffman Paulina 2020 The Quest for Gnosis G R S Mead s Conception of Theosophy Stockholm University Digitala Vetenskapliga Arkivet pp 2n7 OCLC 1261903242 a b Robertson David G 2022 Gnosticism and the History of Religions Bloomsbury Academic p 56 doi 10 5040 9781350137721 ISBN 978 1 350 13769 1 Burns Dylan 2019 Hanegraaff ed Weren t early Christians up against a gnostic religion Amsterdam Amsterdam University Press ISBN 9789463720205 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Linjamaa Paul 2022 The Reception of Pistis Sophia and Gnosticism Uncovering the Link Between Esoteric Milieus and Contemporary Academia Aries doi 10 1163 15700593 20211003 S2CID 246516437 External links edit nbsp Wikiquote has quotations related to G R S Mead Works by G R S Mead at Project Gutenberg Free downloadable online text edition of Orpheus Extensive on line collection of the writings of GRS Mead at the Gnosis Archive Brief bio with poor picture Same picture but much larger and clearer Later Picture with no text Long biography Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title G R S Mead amp oldid 1216189704, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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