Quotes:Kingsford, Anna

Zirkoff, Boris

Kingsford, Dr. Anna Bonus (1846-88) and Edward Maitland (1824-97). *The Perfect Way, or the Finding of Christ. London, 1882, 8vo.; rev. & enl. ed., 1887.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 4, p. 654

Kingsford, Dr. Anna Bonus (1846-1888) and Edward Maitland (1824-1897). *A Letter Addressed to the Fellows of the London Lodge of The Theosophical Society, by the President and a VicePresident of the Lodge. Contains also section entitled “Remarks and Propositions Suggested by the Perusal of Esoteric Buddhism," by Edward Maitland, and an Open Letter from Dr. A. B. Kingsford to Col. Henry S. Olcott, dated Oct. 31, 1883. Privately printed by Bunny and Davis, Shrewsbury, England, Dec., 1883. 39 pp.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 5, p. 377

Kingsford, Dr. Anna Bonus (1846-1888) and Edward Maitland (1824-1897). *The Perfect Way, or the Finding of Christ. London, 1882. 8-vo. Rev. and enl. ed., pp. xxiii, 397. London: Field and Tuer, 1887. 8-vo.—*A Letter Addressed to the Fellows of the London Lodge of The Theosophical Society, by the President and the VicePresident of the Lodge. Contains also section entitled “Remarks and Propositions Suggested by the Perusal of Esoteric Buddhism,” by Edward Maitland, and an Open Letter from Dr. A. B. Kingsford to Col. Henry S. Olcott, dated Oct. 31, 1883. Privately printed by Bunny and Davis, Shrewsbury, England, Dec., 1883. 39 pp.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 6, p. 439

Kingsford, Dr. Anna Bonus (1846–1888) and Edward Maitland (1824–1897). *The Perfect Way, or the Finding of Christ. London, 1882. 8vo.; rev. and enl. ed., London: Field & Tuer, 1887. 8vo.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 8, p. 462

Kingsford, Anna Bonus. English doctor of medicine and mystical writer, daughter of John Bonus, b. at Maryland Point, Stratford, Essex, September 16, 1846. Married, 1867, Rev. Algernon Godfrey Kingsford, vicar of Atcham, Shropshire. Received into 439 the Roman Catholic Church by Cardinal Manning, 1870, adopting Christian names Annie Mary Magdalene Maria Johanna. In 1868-72, wrote stories in the Penny Post, signing herself Ninon Kingsford and Mrs. Algernon Kingsford. In 1872, purchased and edited in her own name The Lady's Own Paper, in which she strenuously supported movement against vivisection. Gave up this paper, 1873, and went to Paris, 1874, to study medicine and philosophy. Took the degree of M.D. July 22, 1880, from the faculty of Paris. Became a vegetarian during this period, and chose as subject for her doctorate thesis “De l’alimentation végétale chez l’homme.” This thesis, translated into English and enlarged, was published, 1881, as The Perfect Way in Diet. After graduation, engaged in active medical practice in London, although her mind was very largely occupied with mystical subjects. She soon entered upon a vigorous crusade against vivisection and the consumption of animal food, publishing several small treatises, such as A Lecture on Food and La Rage et M. Pasteur. In 1887, a cold she had caught while visiting Pasteur’s laboratory developed into pulmonary consumption. A stay on the Riviera produced no particular benefit; she returned to London, where she died at Wynnstay-Gardens, Kensington, February 22, 1888, and was buried in Atcham churchyard. She had one daughter. A woman of remarkable beauty, she had great success with women as a doctor, and was a pioneer in the cause of higher education for women.

Mrs. Kingsford’s association with the Theosophical Society dates from about September, 1882. On January 7, 1883, she was elected President of the London Lodge T. S., and remained in that post until April 6, 1884, when Gerard Finch succeeded her, H. P. B. being unexpectedly present on this occasion. Considerable friction had existed in the Lodge for sometime, due to the fact that Mrs. Kingsford’s leanings were mainly in the direction of Hermetic teachings with which many of the members did not agree. On May 9, 1884, Mrs. Kingsford founded the Hermetic Society for the study of mystical philosophy. A fairly complete picture of the events during this rather turbulent period may be obtained by consulting the Indices of The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett and of The Letters of H. P. Blavatsky to A. P. Sinnett, from which it would appear that Mrs. Kingsford had elicited a special sympathy and support on the part of Master M. owing to her great love for the helpless animals. It would also seem that, while being an ordinary human being with many human faults and shortcomings, her inner nature had attained some degree of illumination, and the spiritual knowledge of the soul imperfectly manifested itself at times through mystical visions which Mrs. Kingsford embodied in some of her writings.

In addition to those already mentioned, she wrote the following works: 440 Beatrice, a Tale of the Early Christians, London, 1863.

River Reeds (verses), anonymously publ., London, 1866.

Rosamunda, the Princess, London, 1868.

*The Perfect Way; or, the Finding of Christ (in collaboration with Edward Maitland). London: Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1882. 4to; rev. and enl. ed., London: Field and Tuer, 1887; 3rd ed., 1890. This work was reviewed at great length by T. Subba Row (The Theosophist, Vol. III, May and June, 1882, pp. 207-10 and 232-235 resp.).

The Virgin of the World. Translation with Preface from Hermetic writings. Introduction and Notes by Anna Kingsford and Edward Maitland. London: George Redway, 1885. 4to. Also Madras: P. Kailasam Brothers; Spiritualistic Book Depot, 1885. xxx, 154 pp. This work was also reviewed at length by T. Subba Row (The Solar Sphinx) in The Theosophist (Vol. VII, Nov. and Dec., 1885, pp. 95-98, and 153-58 resp.).

Astrology Theologized. The Spiritual Hermeneutics of Astrology and Holy Writ. This is a reprint with Preface of a work by Valentini Weigelius written in 1649. London, 1886, 4to.

Health, Beauty and the Toilet, London, 1886. 8vo; 2nd ed., same year.

Posthumously were published the following works, edited by Edward Maitland:

Dreams and Dream Stories, 1888, 8vo.

“Clothed with the Sun,” New York, 1889. 4to; 2nd ed.: Birmingham: The Ruskin Press, 1906.

Of historical importance in connection with the early Theosophical Movement is the lengthy Circular Letter issued by both Dr. Kingsford and E. Maitland, in December, 1883, and addressed to the “Fellows of the London Lodge,” as well as their Reply of March, 1884, to the Observations of T. Subba Row on their first Letter.

SOURCES CONSULTED: Dictionary of National Biography, London; The Theosophist, Vol. IX, Suppl. to April, 1888, p. xxxv (Obituary Notice); Edward Maitland, Anna Kingsford. Her Life, Letters, Diary and Work. London: Geo. Redway, 1896. 2 vols.; 3rd ed., J. M. Watkins, 1913; various Theosophical journals.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 9, pp. 438-440