Quotes:Ivins, William Mills

Boris de Zirkoff

Ivins, William Mills. Distinguished American lawyer, b. at Upper Freehold, N. J., April 22, 1851; d. in New York, July 23, 1915. Son of Augustus and Sarah (Mills) Ivins. Graduated in 1869 from Adelphi Academy, Brooklyn, N.Y. Studied at Columbia law school and was admitted to the Bar in 1873. Began law practice as a member of the Brooklyn firm of Bergen & Ivins and during that period represented H.P.B. in her lawsuit against Clementine Gerebko. (Vide pp. 83-84 of the present volume.)

During 1885-88, Ivins was judge advocate general of New York state. He was a close student of municipal government, and in 1881-82 was to a large extent acting mayor of New York under Wm. R. Grace. As Chamberlain of the city, he fought a courageous battle for various municipal reforms, and exposed corrupt conditions. In 1907-09, was Chairman of a committee which prepared a Charter for New York city, known as the Ivins Charter, which became a model for other city charters. A formidable courtroom opponent, he won a number of important law cases and took part in political campaigns on the side of much-needed reforms. A many-sided man, Ivins was interested in botany, biology, general philosophy, assembled an extensive library on Napoleon which was given to Columbia University after his death, and wrote several works on legal matters. He was married to Emma Laura Yard; they had five children. (Vide pp. 95-100 of the present volume for further information on Ivins and the "Hiraf" Club.)

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 1, p. 471