Quotes:Butlerov, Alexander Mihaylovich

Zirkoff, Boris

Butlerov, Alexander Mihaylovich. Renowned Russian chemist, founder of the so-called "Butlerov School," b. Aug. 25/Sept. 6, 1828, at Chistopol', Province of Kazan'; died Aug. 5/17, 1886, on his estate of Butlerovka in the same Province. He was the son of a lieutenant-colonel of modest means and was educated at home and in the Gymnasium of Kazan', before entering the physio-mathematical department of the Kazan' University. His unusual capacities resulted in a rapid progress in his studies and a generous recognition on the part of his teachers. His University appointed him to its Staff to teach chemistry and physical geography. In 1854 he became Doctor of Chemistry at Moscow University and was retained there to teach Chemistry. During three separate trips abroad, Butlerov spent considerable time studying the progress of chemistry in Europe, and establishing personal relations with a number of outstanding scientists, such as Bunsen, Kekule and others. His scientific research laid the foundation of chemistry in Russia and coincided with the first marked development of organic chemistry in Europe.

It is of special interest to students of Theosophy to note his intense interest in Spiritualistic and allied phenomena. He became versed in the subject and approached it from the purely scientific viewpoint. On his initiative, there was organized in St. Petersburg in 1871 the first scientific Committee for the investigation of mediumistic phenomena, which included Professors Ovsyannikov, Chebishev and Zion. He was also very active in the formation of another Committee for the same purpose, suggested by Prof. Mendeleyev and made up of members of the Physical Society at the University of St. Petersburg. He was a constant contributor to the Spiritualistic journal Rebus for which H.P.B. wrote. His articles on the general subject of mediumship and psychic manifestations were published at St. Petersburg in 1889, with reminiscences by his life-long friend and co-worker, Prof. N. P. Wagner.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 1, pp. 448-449

Butlerov, Alexander Mihaylovich (1828-86). *Art. “Empiricism and Dogmatism in the Domain of Mediumship.” Vide for biogr. sketch, Vol. I, pp. 448-49, of the present Series.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 2, p. 524

Butlerov, Alexander Mihaylovich (1828-1886). *“Empiricism and Dogmatism in the Domain of Mediumship,” in Russkiy Vestnik, April, 1881. See Vol. I of present Series, pp. 448-49, for biographical data.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 3, p. 499

Butleroff, Alexander Mihaylovich (1828-86). *Scientific Letters, published in the daily Novoye Vremya (St. Petersburg, Russia), 1883.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 7, p. 361

Butleroff, Prof. Alexander Mihaylovich (1828-1886). *Scientific Letters. Apparently a series which appeared in the Novoye Vremya, daily of St. Petersburg, Russia, sometime in 1883.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 8, p. 421