The Franklin Merrell-Wolff Fellowship

A note from the author of numerous Theosophical articles. (2 pages)

1. Karma as a Cure for Trouble 2. Theosophy 3. Theosophy as a Guide in Life 4. Spirituality (Incomplete) (15 pages)

These pamphlets were not distributed by the ULT, but are productions of the American Theosophical Society. It is not known how these pamphlets made it into the Wolff Archive nor whether the Merrell-Wolffs had any contact with this organization (perhaps on one of their frequent trips to Chicago?). The American Theosophical Society was formed under the leadership of Alexander Fullerton and consisted of the five American lodges that had opposed the secession from the International Theosophical Society in Adyar that most lodges voted for during the Ninth Annual Convention of the American Section of this organization in 1895. The American Theosophical Society was legally renamed “The Theosophical Society in America” (TSA) in 1934, and has existed under that name ever since. The eighty-three American lodges that did vote for autonomy from the International Theosophical Society in Adyar were reorganized under the leadership of William Q. Judge, whom Wolff held in high regard.

These pamphlets are listed here simply because they are evidence of contact by the Wolffs with another theosophical organization.

Although not part of the Wolff Archive, the November 17, 2003 issue of The Aquarian Theosophist (vol. IV, no. 1) contains a brief note on Wolff as well as a reprint of the Preface to Pathways Through to Space. The editor notes that “Mr. Wolff became an Associate of the ULT in December 1922. He appears to have deeply imbibed the Blavatsky writings as a stepping stone to Shankaracharya.” (28 pages)

Although not part of the Wolff Archive, the January 17, 2004 issue of the The Aquarian Theosophist (Vol. IV, no. 3) reprints Wolff's essay, “Is Theosophy Authentic?”. In the Correspondence section of this issue (p. 27), one of the editors from the Los Angeles United Lodge of Theosophists states that:

I have his [Wolff’s] Associate Card on my desk, but would like to check with you to make sure it is really him. The card was signed “Franklin F. Wolff,” Halcyon, Calif. and dated by the local registrar, Brinton Jones as 12/16/22. I was expecting the “Merrell-Wolff,” but perhaps he did not always sign that way in 1922.

The editor is correct in inferring the Wolff did not use the name “Merrell-Wolff” for his personal use, but only as a pen-name.

On the next page, this editor states that he is “a little leery” about Ron Leonard’s editing of volume 2 of The Philosophy of Consciousness Without an Object in a note to Doroethy Leonard; Ms. Leonard replies that “I think you are right about Ron's editing.” As noted elsewhere (see “Books” under the Wolff Archive), Wolff was adamantly opposed to any editing of this work. (36 pages)