United Lodge of Theosophists

The United Lodge of Theosophists is an independent theosophical organization founded in 1909 by Robert Crosbie (1849-1919). Crosbie belonged to the theosophical community created by Katherine Tingley at Point Loma, San Diego, California, in the early 1900s. Before long he argued that the community had lost its direction as originally established. He moved to Los Angeles, opened the United Lodge, and founded a publishing facility, the Theosophy Company. The first issue of Theosophy Magazine appeared in 1912.

Among the people attracted to the United Lodge was B. P. Wadia, an Indian who had held a high position in the Theosophical Society. Wadia eventually succeeded Crosbie as head of the lodge and is credited with turning it into an international organization. More recently a leadership role was assumed by Rhagavan N. Iyer, now a retired professor of political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara. With his wife, Nandini, Iyer heads the lodge's Santa Barbara group and founded Concord Press, which has developed an extensive publishing program of theosophical and related materials.

The United Lodge of Theosophists has no formal membership but there are some 11 lodges in the United States and 11 more in other countries. Along with the magazine Theosophy, the group publishes the monthly, The Theosophical Movement, and the bimonthly, Vidya. Address: 245 W. 33rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90007. Website: http://www.ult.org/.

Sources:

Crosbie, Robert. Answers to Questions on the Ocean of Theosophy. Los Angeles: Theosophy, 1937.

——. The Friendly Philosopher. Los Angeles: Theosophy, 1934.

The Theosophical Movement, 1875-1950. Los Angeles: Cunningham Press, 1951.

United Lodge of Theosophists. http://www.ult.org/. March 8, 2000.

United Lodge of Theosophists: Its Mission and Its Future. Los Angeles: Theosophy, n.d.