Franz Hartmann

Franz Hartmann ( born November 22, 1838 in Donauwörth, Bavaria; † August 7, 1912 in Kempten ( Allgäu) ) was a German theosophist, Freemasons, Rosicrucians and author of esoteric works.

Life

Childhood and youth

Franz Hartmann was born on November 22, 1838 in Donauwörth, the son of Karl Hartmann and his wife Elise of stack. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Kempten, as the father, a general practitioner, had taken a job there as a royal Bavarian court physician. After his childhood, youth and schooling in Kempten, he enlisted in 1859 as a volunteer for the Bavarian army at the 1st Royal Bavarian Artillery Regiment in Würzburg. But a year later he resigned from the military and began at the Ludwig- Maximilians- University in Munich on his state exam preparation. After the 1862 test, he began to study pharmacology to become a pharmacist.

Experience in the U.S.

Even before completing his studies made ​​Hartmann 1865 a holiday trip to France and when he in Le Havre was offered on a U.S. boat package the post of ship's doctor, he said to the sheer adventure. So he came to America, where he eventually settled in St. Louis. Here he finished his studies, practiced as an ophthalmologist and acquired American citizenship. 1870 him the quiet life was too boring, he gave up his thriving practice and began an extensive travels. In Mexico, he lived for some time in Córdoba and Orizaba, studied the Indian culture in different strains and practiced again in 1871 as a doctor in New Orleans. In 1872 he settled in the U.S. state of Texas, bought a farm and married. But seven months later, his wife died, prompting Hartmann sold the farm and began to travel again. Back and forth he roamed the United States, studied with Indians, examined numerous parapsychological phenomena and occupied himself with the views of various religions until 1879 in Georgetown, Colorado again practiced as a physician. 1882 Hartmann was there appointed court physician. Here he also joined the Masonic Lodge AFAM No. Georgetown. 12 at.

The Theosophist

In the U.S. and India

As a result of his esoteric interests he learned in 1882 Helena Blavatsky's book Isis Unveiled know and appreciate, and, after a further move to New Orleans, it was the beginning of 1883 a member of the local lodge of the Theosophical Society (TG ). Following the desire to meet personally Blavatsky, Hartmann sought epistolary contact with her and then following it with Henry Steel Olcott. From this he was invited to come to Madras to the headquarters of TG, according to Adyar to India. On October 11, 1883, he embarked in San Francisco and, after stops in Japan and China, he reached on December 4, Madras. Following the example of some leading Theosophists at Adyar following, Hartmann was converted to Buddhism on December 26, 1883. Within a short time he became the closest confidant of Blavatsky, Olcott and Subba Row and finally administrative head of the TG Center. Hartmann continued to work intensively with the teachings of Theosophy apart, immersed himself in the philosophy of Buddhism and Hinduism and dealt with the various forms of yoga. While Blavatsky, Hartmann like "dirty Franz" called, and Olcott February-December 1884 on a European tour of Adyar were absent began to beat the controversial Coulomb affair waves, this attracted both the reputation of Blavatsky and the TG affected. Hartmann, as a member of the Supervisory Council of the TG in Adyar, Blavatsky tried to defend, thus came into conflict with the angry supporters of TG and adversely affected by the report public opinion. This torpedoed the exercise of conducting functional Hartmanns in Adyar -TG and made his continued stay in India impossible. Together with Blavatsky, whose stay was also no longer welcome in India by these incidents, he left in the spring of 1885 the country ( March 26-April 7, there are different information on the date of departure ), never to return there. In Naples arrived, he left after a few days, finally, after all. Mutual agreement, by Blavatsky to go to Kempten, where he arrived on May 20, 1885

In Germany

This year, 1885, he joined the Theosophical Loge Germania. However, this was by now become known in Germany Coulomb affair already serious disintegration and was thus no longer able to spread the theosophical idea effectively. So matured in Hartmann the idea of ​​establishing a "new" German TG. This should be unloaded from the ruined reputation of the Adyar TG arise, and by Katherine Tingley, the president-elect of the Theosophical Society in America in 1896 offered him this opportunity. Tingley attended this year on their promotional world tour for the ( American ) theosophy and Germany. Even before Hartmann Paul Raatz had met, and under whose leadership was on June 24, 1896 in Berlin, the Theosophical Society founded in Europe ( Germany ) ( TGE). At the first Annual General Meeting on August 30, 1896 Hartmann has been selected in the presence of Katherine Tingley, president of the new company, Theodor Reuss became vice president. After a year, on September 3, 1897 Hartmann, however, again separated from the TGE to found the International Theosophical Brotherhood (ITV ) on the same day in Munich. This should unite as a parent organization, all theosophical lodges. Hartmann was a year long self- president of ITV, then he gave in 1898 this office to Hermann Rudolph ( 1865-1946 ). Under the umbrella of I.T.V. Hartmann founded in Leipzig in 1898, the Theosophical Society in Germany (TGD ), whose members were often referred to in to as " Hartmannianer " because their theosophical direction was marked by its founder. This society still exists today ( 2005).

In Austria

Hartmann knew since the mid- 1880s the versatile educated and esoteric interested Friedrich Eckstein in Vienna, he had already learned about theosophy earlier and was in 1884 met with Blavatsky and Olcott in England. Hartmann found here a kindred spirit, and made him, and later his wife Bertha Diener, besides theosophy with various yoga techniques known. Cornerstone in turn was a close friend of Sigmund Freud, who became acquainted with Theosophy and Yoga in this way. To Eckstein's circle of acquaintances included the at this time in Vienna studying Rudolf Steiner, who intensively studied by this source for the first time with Theosophy. Eckstein, known by many "greats " of the time around the turn of the century ( 19-20. ), Conveyed his theosophical ideas among others Anton Bruckner, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Karl Kraus, Adolf Loos, Robert Musil, Rainer Maria Rilke, Felix Salten, Arthur Schnitzler, Franz Werfel, Hugo Wolf. As Eckstein, authorized by a by Helena Blavatsky in 1886 issued deed of foundation, founded a Viennese Theosophical Society, Hartmann was elected as president.

1903 came Hartmann on the occult magazine Gnosis ( 1904 Rudolf Steiner magazine Lucifer to Lucifer Gnosis combined ), in contact with Guido von List, who had published there an article on the "Aryan proto-language ". Hartmann established contact to Vienna and the German -TG (TGD ) and made known list with Theosophy. List enthusiastic especially the eclecticism of the theosophical teachings. He took over from them cosmological ideas among others the root-race hypothesis of Helena Blavatsky and abused by mixing with the racism of Arthur Gobineau to a " ariosophy ". From acquaintance to List Hartmann developed a close relationship with Guido von List Society, as it existed until his death in 1912.

Karl Kellner, a Viennese paper industrialist, came by Hartmann with Theosophy and Yoga in touch. Together they developed in the 1890s the lignosulphite inhalation proceedings against whooping cough and tuberculosis. Hartmann was able, through the mediation waiter, a well- paid job in the sanatorium Lahmann, get in the Austrian Hallein, where he among other things, this method successfully anwandte to Gustav Meyrink. For Hartmann, who suffered most of his life from a chronic lack of money, this place was interesting, especially in financial terms, but this secured him a regular income.

In secret societies and secret societies

Hartmann, Kellner and Theodor Reuss -press from 1902 in the dissemination of an Egyptian rite higher degrees, the English occultist John Yarker was created by the merger of Memphis and Mizraim Rite. On December 27, 1903 Karl Kellner is for 33 °, 90 °, 96 ° appointed from England and Germany. After the death of Karl Kellner 1905 Yarker issued to Reuss 33 °, 96 °, Franz Hartmann, 33 °, 95 °, Heinrich Klein 33 °, 95 ° permission the degrees of Memphis - Mizraim Rite 1-33 °, 90 °, 95 ° to edit. As early as 1904, Franz Hartmann began sharply from Reuss and Kellner to distance because of their occult practices. The deal, the Reuss with Rudolf Steiner concluded in January 1906 which included a sale of high levels basically, Franz Hartmann tried to prevent. The January 22, 1906 is the first date of a ( British ) constitution of the Ordo Templi Orientis ( OTO ), designed the Reuss into a kind of umbrella organization. Retrospectively, he took the Memphis - Mizraim Rite in the OTO and explains all Memphis - Mizraim members from 1902 to 1906 without their knowledge and consent retroactively to OTO members. Reuss was intended to be able to demonstrate a remarkable gallery of ancestors for new members. This resulted for historical research first the opinion, Hartmann and Steiner were members of the OTO been what they were never, however. High-level representatives of the then German Memphis - Mizraim, such as Paul Eberhardt and Emil Adriányi even learned only about 1912 of the existence of OTO, and argued that the founding date of the OTO Reuss had predated to 1906.

See also the publication of Peter -Robert King:

• Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925): never a member of any OTO

Horst Miers suggested in his "Dictionary of the secret knowledge" that Hartmann, is said to have founded together with Leopold Engel, in Dresden the Esoteric Order of Rose Croix. As Hartmann however ( ground) organized Rosicrucianism significantly declined, and instead a loose spiritual union theosophical adepts beführwortete, this assumption seems very questionable.

The writer

Franz Hartmann was a master of language. Even difficult relationships he was able to explain in simple and easily understandable words. According to him, he never wanted to be a writer, but began to " self-instruction " to write, initially in English, later in German. His main work was the magazine Lotus flowers, which he edited for 13 years and in which he wrote most of the article itself. Many of these essays were later published in book form. He also published including in the journals New Sphinx and Metaphysical Rundschau. In addition to the Christian mystics, he wrote about Yoga, the Vedas, Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Occultism and magic was as much of his repertoire as themes from Theosophy. Hartmann was also active as a translator, such as the Bhagavad Gita or the Tao Te Ching from English.

Death

Hartmann traveled since 1885 virtually only German-speaking countries and England, but these more often, but he held numerous lectures, primarily for Theosophy. He died on August 7, 1912 in Kempten ( Allgäu) while driving home from a lecture trip to his last residence in Lagundo. He was buried in Kempten.

Criticism

Hartmann can be regarded as one of the most important pioneers of Theosophy in Germany. In addition to his many contacts he reached a large and especially influential audience through numerous presentations and publications. He created connections between the religious- mystical world of India and Europe, contributing significantly to the spread of Eastern philosophies in the West at. The other hand, Hartmann's work is contrary to the traditional Christian denominations and is therefore rejected by them.

Works (selection)

• Lotus flowers, Publisher
• John Waterman ( di Hans Fändrich ): Franz Hartmann selected theosophical works, 10 volumes. Treasury Verlag, Buenos Aires and Calw 1954-1992.
• Other dimensions of thought, knowledge and understanding, an introduction to the secret science. Manas, Stuttgart 1984, ISBN 3-89071-004-2, title of the original edition: Popular lectures on occult science. Leipzig o.J.
• Autobiography. Theosophy movement in eV, Frankfurt am Main, Series, No. 04
• Reflections on the Tao -Teh -King. The way, the truth and the light. Theosophical Central bookstore, Leipzig o.J.
• The Gospel of Buddha, his life and teaching. Ullrich, Calw 1994, ISBN 3-924411-52-2.
• Memorable memories. Theosophical publishing house, Leipzig o.J.
• The epistemology of the Bhagavad -gita, considered in the light of the Secret Doctrine. Long, Kolbenmoor 1999, ISBN 3-930664-06-2.
• The Secret Doctrine of the Christian Religion according to the Declaration of Meister Eckhart. Publisher of Wilhelm Friedrich, Leipzig o.J.
• Mysticism in Goethe's "Faust ," A consideration. Theosophical publishing house, Leipzig 1918.
• The symbols of the Bible and the Church, its esoteric meaning. Treasury Verlag, Calw 1966.
• Elemental spirits. Their nature and different characters, groups, types and classes. Publisher Heliakon, 2012, ISBN 978-3-943208-04-7.
• Floor plan of the Secret Doctrine by HP Blavatsky. Treasury Verlag, Calw 1980.
• Hermetic children's stories. Jaeger'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, Leipzig 38 o.J.
• Jehoshua the Prophet of Nazareth. Publisher Heliakon, 2012, ISBN 978-3-943208-05-4
• Karma or knowledge, action and becoming, want with practical instructions about the occult science for those who not only know but also be. Long, Kolbenmoor 1999, ISBN 3-930664-00-3.
• Buried alive. An investigation of the nature and causes of the death certificate and the means to prevent the Lebendigbegrabenwerdens. Theosophical publishing house Dr. Hugo Vollrath, Leipzig oJ
• Mysteries, symbols and magical forces acting. Lotus -Verlag, Leipzig 1902.
• Theophrastus Paracelsus as a mystic. Theosophical publishing house, Leipzig 1930.
• Theosophical Correspondence, Containing the answers to numerous questions in relation to theosophy, magic, occultism, spiritualism, occult sciences, etc Lotus -Verlag, Leipzig o.J. ( after 1901 ).
• Among the Adepts and Rosicrucians. Schikowski, Berlin 1986.
• Among the adepts. Confidential Mittheilungen from the circles of the Indian adepts and Christian mystics. Lotus -Verlag, Leipzig, 1901.
• Among the gnomes in the lower mountain. Publisher of Wilhelm Friedrich, Leipzig o.J.
• Confidential messages. Second enlarged edition, Theosophical Publishing House, Leipzig 1924.
• What is Yoga?. Treasury Verlag, Calw 1962.

Swell