Quotes:Wyld, George

Zirkoff, Boris

Wyld, Dr. George. Scottish Physician, b. March 17, 1821, at Bennington Banks, near Edinburgh, the seventh son in a family of fifteen. Between the age of 12 and 15 attended Edinburgh Academy, studying Greek and Latin; later, the Cunningham English Scientific and Mathematical Academy. When sixteen, started working in a business firm where he stayed about four years. When twenty, went to London via Liverpool. At first he worked in the Provincial Bank of Ireland, then in a publishing house, and then went travelling on the Continent where he spent about a year. Upon his return, began the study of medicine at University College and Hospital, and three years later continued studies for another year at Edinburgh. Became M.D., 1851. Being greatly intrigued by Homeopathy, he attended the Homeopathic Hospital and became a Homeopathic physician, practising this branch of medicine for some 25 years. In 1853, Dr. Wyld wrote his small but important book entitled Homeopathy, an Attempt to state the Question with fairness, etc. (London: J. Walker, pp. 45; 2nd ed., 1857, pp. 46). This incurred for him the immediate enmity of the medical profession which, however, failed to dismay him. Many years later, in 1876, Dr. Wyld became the Acting President of the British Homeopathic Society, and his work contributed a great deal towards the recognition of Homeopathy and the establishment of better feelings between various branches of medical practice.

Along other lines of endeavor, mention should be made of the fact that Dr. Wyld was for many years a Director of the District Railways and, in 1886, instigated the founding of the Liberal Unionist Party.

For years he had been interested in Phrenology, joining the Phrenological Society in London in 1844; also in Spiritualism and Mesmerism. In connection with the latter, he was the disciple of John Dove of Edinburgh, and a practicing mesmerist of the Mesmeric Society, of which the famous Dr. Elliotson was the ruling spirit. But Dr. Wyld was not a hypnotist and had grave reservations against this practice. In 1854, he met D. D. Home, the famous medium, and somewhat later Dr. Henry Slade whom he defended against virulent attacks in London. This of course incurred for him another cycle of antagonism on the part of medical men and he lost some of his practice.

539 It was in 1879 that Dr. Wyld met H. P. B. and Col. Olcott at a dinner party at the Billings, in London, where the Founders were at the time, on their way to India. He joined the T.S. and became President of the British Branch, but resigned in 1882, as his philosophy did not easily fit into the Theosophical picture. He was fundamentally a devoted Christian and along religious lines his views were somewhat hard and fast, though very high minded and noble in essence.

Dr. Wyld was one of the original Founders of the English Society for Psychical Research, and a member of its First Council.

Among his various works, the following ones should be mentioned: *Theosophy and the Higher Life (London, 1880, pp. 138), a 2nd ed. of which was published as Theosophy, or Spiritual Dynamics and the Divine and Miraculous Man (London: Elliott & Co., 1894, pp. vi, 264). This 2nd ed. contains a Prefatory Note in which Dr. Wyld states that he resigned from the T.S. after realizing that H. P. B. did not believe in a personal God.—Diseases of the Heart and Lungs, etc., London, 1860.—Clairvoyance, etc., London, 1883.—Mesmerism, Hypnotism, Christian Science and Mind Healing, London, 1899.—Notes on my Life, London; Kegan, Paul, etc., 1903, pp. viii, 124, in which the author gives pertinent facts about his ancestry, immediate family and various activities of his life.

Dr. George Wyld died in 1906, after a useful life in the service of humanity.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 3, pp. 538-539