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[[File:Esperanto flag.png|right|250px|thumb|Esperanto flag]]
[[File:Esperanto flag.png|right|250px|thumb|Esperanto flag]]
[[File:Esperanto Oz book.png|right|190px|thumb|''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' in Esperanto]]
[[File:La Hobito.png|200px|right|thumb|''The Hobbit'' Esperanto edition, 2015]]
'''Esperanto''' is a constructed language created in 1887 by Ludwig L. Zamenhof. He was a Polish doctor who lived in a a region where many languages were spoken, and he wanted people to be able to communicate more readily. Esperanto is derived from elements from Romance and Germanic languages, with some Slavic and Greek.  
'''Esperanto''' is a constructed language created in 1887 by Ludwig L. Zamenhof. He was a Polish doctor who lived in a a region where many languages were spoken, and he wanted people to be able to communicate more readily. Esperanto is derived from elements from Romance and Germanic languages, with some Slavic and Greek.  


== History of Esperanto movement ==
== History of Esperanto movement ==
Interest in Esperanto grew slowly at first, but rapidly in the early 20th century. In 1913 Theosophists wrote this summary of the movement:
<blockquote>
A cursory glance through the magazines of this great Peace Movement shows that its progress is steady and irresistible. Among the sources of recognition which the new tongue is receiving, I find that the Oxford Committee for Promoting International Understanding and Friendship has recently sent out to foreign universities a resolution drawn up in English, Latin and Esperanto. The Briish Consuls in a number of foreign ports are said to be advising the use of Esperanto to British merchants. The Roman Catholics in three special International Congresses have laid the foundation of an international organization of their own and they are planning for further activities to strengthen activities in their work. In Japan, the movement is progressing under prominent workers. University leaders in many continental cities seem to be advocatiing the use of the international tongue...
An interesting illustration of the use of the language is seen in the report of a visit which Mrs. Crafts, of Washington, recently paid to the leper colony in Iceland. She could not speak Icelandic, but she found that the lepers there spoke Esperanto and she, being an Esperantist, was a ble to communicate readily with them In an interview they siad: "Esperanto gives us a very pleasant occupation here in the hospital and also makes us feel that we still have a hold on the world."<ref>"Esperanto," ''The American Theosophist 14 no.8 (May, 1913) 700.</ref>
</blockquote>


=== Organizations associated with Esperanto ===
=== Organizations associated with Esperanto ===
Numerous organizations with an interest in peace and brotherhood adopted the concept of a unversal language, including the World Federation of Boys<ref>"Magazines" ''The American Theosophist'' 15 no.3 (December, 1913): 234.</ref>; The Oxford Committee for Promoting Internation Understanding and Friendship<ref>"Esperanto" ''The American Theosophist 14 no.8 (May, 1913) 700.</ref>
Numerous organizations with an interest in peace and brotherhood adopted the concept of a unversal language, such as the World Federation of Boys<ref>"Magazines" ''The American Theosophist'' 15 no.3 (December, 1913): 234.</ref> and the Oxford Committee for Promoting Internation Understanding and Friendship.<ref>"Esperanto," ''The American Theosophist 14 no.8 (May, 1913) 700.</ref> Theosophists were especially drawn to this idea, as were members of the [[Bahá'í Faith]].


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
His Holiness, Abdul Baha, recently declared in a notable address on Peace that he had commmanded all thr Bahaists in the Orient to study Esperanto very carefully. stating tha tere long the language would spread all over the East.<ref>"Esperanto" ''The American Theosophist 14 no.8 (May, 1913) 700-701.</ref>
His Holiness, Abdul Baha, recently declared in a notable address on Peace that he had commmanded all the Bahaists in the Orient to study Esperanto very carefully, stating that ere long the language would spread all over the East.<ref>"Esperanto" ''The American Theosophist 14 no.8 (May, 1913) 700-701.</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


=== Publishing in Esperanto ===
=== Publishing in Esperanto ===
[[File:La Hobito.png|200px|right|thumb|''The Hobbit'' Esperanto edition, 2015]]
[[File:Esperanto Oz book.png|right|190px|thumb|''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' in Esperanto]]
Publishing companies specializing in Esperanto sprung up in several cities. An Esperanto-English, English-Esperanto Dictionary was published in Scotland in 1913.<ref>"Magazines" ''The American Theosophist'' 15 no.3 (December, 1913): 234.</ref> Examples of classic works translated into Esperanto in its early days include Shakespeare's '''''Hamlet'''''<ref>Shakespeare, William. ''Hamleto, reĝido de Danujo: tragedio en kvin aktoj'' [Hamlet, King of Denmark: a tragedy in five acts]. Paris: Esperantista Centra librejo, 1924.</ref>, Goethe's '''''Iphigenia auf Tauris'''''<ref>Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. ''Iphigenie auf Tauris'' [Iphigenia in Tauris]. Paris: Esperantista Centra Librejo, 1921. 108 pages. Translated from German by L. L. Zamenhof.</ref>,  and Schiller's '''''The Robbers'''''<ref>Schiller, Friedrich von ''La Rabistoj: dramo en kvin akto'' [The Robbers: a Drama in Five Acts]. Paris: Hachette, 1908. Translated by L. L. Zamenhof.</ref>  An original 1928 work in Esperanto by Raymond Schwartz is '''''Prozo ridetanta''''' [Smiling Prose]'''''<ref>Schwartz, Raymond. ''Prozo ridetanta: noveloj originale verkitaj'''[Smiling prose: short stories originally written].  Paris: Esperantista Centra Lebrejo, 1928. Original stories written in Esperanto. 170 pages.</ref>
Publishing companies specializing in Esperanto sprung up in several cities. An Esperanto-English, English-Esperanto Dictionary was published in Scotland in 1913.<ref>"Magazines" ''The American Theosophist'' 15 no.3 (December, 1913): 234.</ref> Examples of classic works translated into Esperanto in its early days include Shakespeare's '''''Hamlet'''''<ref>Shakespeare, William. ''Hamleto, reĝido de Danujo: tragedio en kvin aktoj'' [Hamlet, King of Denmark: a tragedy in five acts]. Paris: Esperantista Centra librejo, 1924.</ref>, Goethe's '''''Iphigenia auf Tauris'''''<ref>Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. ''Iphigenie auf Tauris'' [Iphigenia in Tauris]. Paris: Esperantista Centra Librejo, 1921. 108 pages. Translated from German by L. L. Zamenhof.</ref>,  and Schiller's '''''The Robbers'''''<ref>Schiller, Friedrich von ''La Rabistoj: dramo en kvin akto'' [The Robbers: a Drama in Five Acts]. Paris: Hachette, 1908. Translated by L. L. Zamenhof.</ref>  An original 1928 work in Esperanto by Raymond Schwartz is '''''Prozo ridetanta''''' [Smiling Prose]'''''<ref>Schwartz, Raymond. ''Prozo ridetanta: noveloj originale verkitaj'''[Smiling prose: short stories originally written].  Paris: Esperantista Centra Lebrejo, 1928. Original stories written in Esperanto. 170 pages.</ref>


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== Theosophy and Esperanto ==
== Theosophy and Esperanto ==


Theosophists who are known to have used Esperanto include lecturer Alwyn J. Baker and [[Alma Karlin]], a world traveler and linguist. Linguistics professor [[John Algeo]] wrote an article about the 50th anniversary of Esperanto.<ref>John Algeo, [https://www.academia.edu/5490002/Cantjara_Datreveno_de_Esperanto "Cantjara Datreveno de Esperanto"] in Academica.edu.</ref>
Theosophists and Spiritualists were keenly interested in Esperanto at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Mrs. Edith M. MacHutchin wrote in 1903 that '''[[William T. Stead]]''', a friend of [[Annie Besant]], was acting as printer for an Esperanto grammar called ''Elementary Lessons'' by John Charles O'Connor.
 
Theosophists and Spiritualists were keenly interested at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Mrs. Edith M. MacHutchin wrote in 1903 that '''[[William T. Stead]]''' was acting as printer for an Esperanto grammar called ''Elementary Lessons'' by John Charles O'Connor.


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
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</blockquote>
</blockquote>


A '''Theosophic-Esperanto Organization''' was formed:
A '''Theosophic-Esperanto Organization''' was formed in 1914:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
The Theosophic-Esperanto organization, which is world-wide in its membership, held a successful meeting in connection with the Eight International Esperanto Congress in Cracow (Austrian Poland) las summer.
The Theosophic-Esperanto organization, which is world-wide in its membership, held a successful meeting in connection with the Eighth International Esperanto Congress in Cracow (Austrian Poland) last summer.


It will continue with renewed vigor its two-fold task: This, of bringing Theosophy to the favorable attention of Esperantists... and, secondly, of seeking to persuade Theosophist to learn for their own purposes this easy and satisfactory medium of international communication, and prepare to adopt Esperanto as the ultimately officialized international language for all Theosophic Publications and communications.<ref>"Esperanto" ''The American Theosophist'' 14 no.5 (Feb 1913): 407.</ref>
It will continue with renewed vigor its two-fold task: This, of bringing Theosophy to the favorable attention of Esperantists... and, secondly, of seeking to persuade Theosophist to learn for their own purposes this easy and satisfactory medium of international communication, and prepare to adopt Esperanto as the ultimately officialized international language for all Theosophic Publications and communications.<ref>"Esperanto" ''The American Theosophist'' 14 no.5 (Feb 1913): 407.</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Theosophists who are known to have used Esperanto include lecturer Alwyn J. Baker, inventor [[Dinshah Ghadiali]], propagandist Charles Ludovic Gutmann,<ref>"Notes" ''The Theosophic Messenger'' 11 No. 4 (January, 1910): 233.</ref> and [[Alma Karlin]], a world traveler and linguist. Linguistics professor [[John Algeo]] wrote an article about the 50th anniversary of Esperanto.<ref>John Algeo, [https://www.academia.edu/5490002/Cantjara_Datreveno_de_Esperanto "Cantjara Datreveno de Esperanto"] in Academica.edu.</ref>


In July 1913, Alwyn J. Baker sent a postcard from [[Krotona in Hollywood#Krotona Court|Krotona Court]] to his friend Dangerfield in Berkeley. Baker was a nationally known Theosophical lecturer and a proponent of the Blue Ridge Brotherhood, a proposed Theosophical colony near Asheville, Tennessee. The message was written in Esperanto:
In July 1913, Alwyn J. Baker sent a postcard from [[Krotona in Hollywood#Krotona Court|Krotona Court]] to his friend Dangerfield in Berkeley. Baker was a nationally known Theosophical lecturer and a proponent of the Blue Ridge Brotherhood, a proposed Theosophical colony near Asheville, Tennessee. The message was written in Esperanto:
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|}
|}


=== Publishing ===
=== Lectures and classes ===
The Esperanto Press and Theosophical publishing houses worked together to publish books. The theosophical Publishing Society in London and Esperantista centra librejo in Paria jointly published '''''[[At the Feet of the Master (book)|At the Feet of the Master]]''''' by Alcyone (Jiddu Krishnamurti), translated by William W. Mann in 1913.
 
Numerous lectures on Esperanto were given by Theosophists for lodge members and the general public. One of the earliest presentations was by '''[[Albert Powell Warrington]]''' when he chaired the 1908 convention of the [[American Theosophical Society]].
 
<blockquote>
Mr. Warrington lectured on Esperanto, showing this movment for an international language to be one expression of the activities of the [[Masters of the Wisdom|Masters]] to make brotherhood a living factor in our life.<ref>"Convention Notes" ''The Theosophic Messenger'' 10 no. 1 (October, 1908): 15.</ref>
</blockquote>
Mr. S. J. Moore spoke in Washington, DC, in 1913.<ref>"Theosophy" ''Washington Times'' (November 15, 1913): 10.</ref> Free weekly classes in Esperanto were offered in Cleveland in 1909,<ref>"Theosophy" advertisement ''Plain Dealer'' 10 (January 10, 1909): 7D.</ref> and in Washington, DC during 1911-1916.<ref>"Theosophy" advertisement ''Washington Herald'' (May 27, 1911): 8.</ref><ref>"Theosophy" advertisement ''Evening Star'' (December 11, 1915): 19.</ref><ref>"Theosophy advertisement ''Washington Herald'' (January 8, 1016): 7.</ref>
 
=== Publishing ===  
The Esperanto Press and Theosophical publishing houses worked together to publish books. The [[Theosophical Publishing Society (London)|Theosophical Publishing Society]] in London and Esperantista Centra Librejo in Paria jointly published '''''[[At the Feet of the Master (book)|At the Feet of the Master]]''''' by Alcyone (Jiddu Krishnamurti), translated by William W. Mann in 1913.


[[File:Esperanto Press.png||200px|right|thumb|''The American Theosophist'', 1913]]
[[File:Esperanto Press.png||200px|right|thumb|''The American Theosophist'', 1913]]
Theosophical journals frequently mentioned Esperanto in '''advertisements'''.
Theosophical journals frequently mentioned Esperanto in '''advertisements'''.
[[File:Amerika Esperantisto advert.png||350px|center|thumb|''The Theosophical Messenger'', 1912]]
[[File:Amerika Esperantisto advert.png||350px|center|thumb|''The Theosophical Messenger'', 1912]]
<br>
 
<br>
'''Book reviews''' of Esperanto books appeared in Theosophical periodicals:
'''Book reviews''' of Esperanto books appeared in Theosophical periodicals:
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
{|style="margin: 0 auto;"
| [[File:ATFM review in Esperanto.png | 365px ]] [[File:ATFM review in English.png | 350px ]]
| [[File:ATFM review in Esperanto.png | 300px ]] [[File:ATFM review in English.png | 300px ]]
|}
|}


A new magazine was announced in 1913:
The '''Theosophical Book Association for the Blind''' (TBAB) published books and a magazine in Esperanto braille, responding requests for such material in the early 1960s.<ref>Flavia B.  Snyder, "Theosophical Book Association for the Blind" ''The American Theosophist'' 52 no. 12 (December, 1964): 292.</ref>
<ref>Alanda Wraye, "Sight, Insight and Beyond" ''The American Theosophist'' 78 no. 3 (May 1990): 2</ref>
 
<blockquote>
We have started out fifth magazine in a fifth language in Braille, with 65 requests in Esperanto Braille before it was started. Where the blind people learn Esperanto Braille is still a mystery to me, but they wrote to me in that language asking for Theosophy. Several of these rquests came from behind the Iron Curtain; news travels fast from friend to friend.<ref>Flavia B.  Snyder, "Theosophical Book Association for the Blind" ''The American Theosophist'' 53 no.8 (August, 1965): 172.</ref>
</blockquote>
 
A new magazine was promoted in ''The American Theosophist'' in 1913:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
'''THE ESPERANTO MONTHLY''', ''edited by William W. Mann. Publishers: U. S. Esperanto Association, Schaller, Iowa. pp.16 Price, 50 cents per annum.''
'''THE ESPERANTO MONTHLY''', ''edited by William W. Mann. Publishers: U. S. Esperanto Association, Schaller, Iowa. pp.16 Price, 50 cents per annum.''
::This new little magazine is sure to make a hit. It is full of helpful points for the student of Esperanto, for beginners as well as for teachers. Every page of it is strictly devoted to the study of the international language. It containts ''Hints to Learners, Notes for Teachers, Idioms, Short Technical Vocabularies'', etc.
::This new little magazine is sure to make a hit. It is full of helpful points for the student of Esperanto, for beginners as well as for teachers. Every page of it is strictly devoted to the study of the international language. It contains ''Hints to Learners, Notes for Teachers, Idioms, Short Technical Vocabularies'', etc.
:::::''S.U.''<ref>"Magazines" ''The American Theosophist'' 14 no.9 (June, 1913): 793-794.</ref>
:::::''S.U.''<ref>"Magazines" ''The American Theosophist'' 14 no.9 (June, 1913): 793-794.</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


=== In 21st Century ===
=== In 21st Century ===
Esperanto continues to be of interest to some Theosophists. A website, '''[https://www.teozofioesperante.org Teozofio en Esperanto]''', provides articles and videos about Theosophy in Esperanto. In 2010, the journal of the Theosophical Society in Italy wrote:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
We know we can count on the possibility that in those countries where the Theosophical Society operates there are Esperantists available to give free courses of Esperanto. Moreover, Internet offers further possibilities. This would allow to dream about the prospect to talk together in our international meetings and congresses using this language. On a subtler and more refined level, we can convey our energies to strengthen more and more a [[thought-form]]. Thanks to this we shall be able to let "that" possible world stand out, where every human being will be able to know and speak the homely dialect to feeI the belonging to his/her tribe; where every human being will speak and write the national language with mastery in order to feel part of the history and of the culture where his/her roots come from; Iast but not least, in this world every human being will be able to rely on Esperanto to recognize him/herseIf, starting from language, equal in dignity, rights and possibilities to all the other human beings.  
We know we can count on the possibility that in those countries where the Theosophical Society operates there are Esperantists available to give free courses of Esperanto. Moreover, Internet offers further possibilities. This would allow to dream about the prospect to talk together in our international meetings and congresses using this language.  
 
On a subtler and more refined level, we can convey our energies to strengthen more and more a [[thought-form]]. Thanks to this we shall be able to let "that" possible world stand out, where every human being will be able to know and speak the homely dialect to feeI the belonging to his/her tribe; where every human being will speak and write the national language with mastery in order to feel part of the history and of the culture where his/her roots come from; Iast but not least, in this world every human being will be able to rely on Esperanto to recognize him/herseIf, starting from language, equal in dignity, rights and possibilities to all the other human beings.  


Believing, like Pythagoras and Plato, that the world expresses Logos also means deciding to feel oneself part of this project. Our Theosophical Society operates in 54 different countries, with 42 national magazines. Why not aiming, in a hopefully short time, at starting publishing the translation into Esperanto of one of the articles on some of our magazines, and then, later on, sharing it with the other ones? It should also be a good way to reinforce contacts with the other groups, bringing in an actual contribution to the cooperation and the common aims of our whole organization.  
Believing, like [[Pythagoras]] and [[Plato]], that the world expresses [[Logos]] also means deciding to feel oneself part of this project. Our Theosophical Society operates in 54 different countries, with 42 national magazines. Why not aiming, in a hopefully short time, at starting publishing the translation into Esperanto of one of the articles on some of our magazines, and then, later on, sharing it with the other ones? It should also be a good way to reinforce contacts with the other groups, bringing in an actual contribution to the cooperation and the common aims of our whole organization.<ref>Piermichele Giordano, "The Theosophical Society and the Esperanto Language" ''Revista Italiana di Teosofia'' (July 2010): 32-35. Article in Italian and English.</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


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* [https://www.esperanto.boutique/ Esperanto Boutique].
* [https://www.esperanto.boutique/ Esperanto Boutique].
* [https://www.audible.com/topic/audiobooks-esperanto-language?srsltid=AfmBOooGwDKNrKNMnY5AjVCNDfxWSiTxQZqyOr2uVI8WrUDdk4tJZK2C Audible.com] for audio versions.
* [https://www.audible.com/topic/audiobooks-esperanto-language?srsltid=AfmBOooGwDKNrKNMnY5AjVCNDfxWSiTxQZqyOr2uVI8WrUDdk4tJZK2C Audible.com] for audio versions.
* [https://katalogo.uea.org/ Universala Esperanto-Asocio] bookstore website of Universala Esperanto=Asocio.
* [https://katalogo.uea.org/ Universala Esperanto-Asocio] bookstore website of Universala Esperanto-Asocio.


=== Audio ===
=== Audio ===
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* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzDS2WyemBI Esperanto: Like a Native] uploaded to German Polyglot on February 20, 2015. An interview with 6 of the ca. 1000 worldwide native speakers of the constructed language Esperanto. Video on occasion of the UN International Mother Language Day 2015.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzDS2WyemBI Esperanto: Like a Native] uploaded to German Polyglot on February 20, 2015. An interview with 6 of the ca. 1000 worldwide native speakers of the constructed language Esperanto. Video on occasion of the UN International Mother Language Day 2015.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJOz4HSwGT0 I Just Got Over 100 New Books in Esperanto!] posted on June 18, 2022 on Exploring Esperanto.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJOz4HSwGT0 I Just Got Over 100 New Books in Esperanto!] posted on June 18, 2022 on Exploring Esperanto.
* [https://x.com/yivoinstitute/status/1972678127521567108?s=43 Yiddish Esperanto textbook] posting by YIVO Institute.


=== Websites ===
=== Websites ===

Latest revision as of 15:34, 20 March 2026

Esperanto flag
The Hobbit Esperanto edition, 2015

Esperanto is a constructed language created in 1887 by Ludwig L. Zamenhof. He was a Polish doctor who lived in a a region where many languages were spoken, and he wanted people to be able to communicate more readily. Esperanto is derived from elements from Romance and Germanic languages, with some Slavic and Greek.

History of Esperanto movement

Interest in Esperanto grew slowly at first, but rapidly in the early 20th century. In 1913 Theosophists wrote this summary of the movement:

A cursory glance through the magazines of this great Peace Movement shows that its progress is steady and irresistible. Among the sources of recognition which the new tongue is receiving, I find that the Oxford Committee for Promoting International Understanding and Friendship has recently sent out to foreign universities a resolution drawn up in English, Latin and Esperanto. The Briish Consuls in a number of foreign ports are said to be advising the use of Esperanto to British merchants. The Roman Catholics in three special International Congresses have laid the foundation of an international organization of their own and they are planning for further activities to strengthen activities in their work. In Japan, the movement is progressing under prominent workers. University leaders in many continental cities seem to be advocatiing the use of the international tongue...

An interesting illustration of the use of the language is seen in the report of a visit which Mrs. Crafts, of Washington, recently paid to the leper colony in Iceland. She could not speak Icelandic, but she found that the lepers there spoke Esperanto and she, being an Esperantist, was a ble to communicate readily with them In an interview they siad: "Esperanto gives us a very pleasant occupation here in the hospital and also makes us feel that we still have a hold on the world."[1]

Organizations associated with Esperanto

Numerous organizations with an interest in peace and brotherhood adopted the concept of a unversal language, such as the World Federation of Boys[2] and the Oxford Committee for Promoting Internation Understanding and Friendship.[3] Theosophists were especially drawn to this idea, as were members of the Bahá'í Faith.

His Holiness, Abdul Baha, recently declared in a notable address on Peace that he had commmanded all the Bahaists in the Orient to study Esperanto very carefully, stating that ere long the language would spread all over the East.[4]

Publishing in Esperanto

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in Esperanto

Publishing companies specializing in Esperanto sprung up in several cities. An Esperanto-English, English-Esperanto Dictionary was published in Scotland in 1913.[5] Examples of classic works translated into Esperanto in its early days include Shakespeare's Hamlet[6], Goethe's Iphigenia auf Tauris[7], and Schiller's The Robbers[8] An original 1928 work in Esperanto by Raymond Schwartz is Prozo ridetanta [Smiling Prose][9]

In subsequent decades, at least 4000 of titles have been published in Esperanto, including about 130 original novels. Books are available at Project Gutenberg, in Barnes & Noble, in Amazon.com, at the Universal Esperanto Association bookshop, at Esperanto Boutique, and audio books at Audible.com. Braille and sign language versions have been developed, and a Esperanto-language version of Wikipedia has about 382,000 articles. At least two million people speak Esperanto in the 70 countries of the U.E.A. ("Universala Esperanta-Asocio", or "World Esperanto Association"). Several periodicals are being written in or about the language.

Characteristics of the language

Words in Esperanto are pronounced the way they are spelled. The language uses an alphabet of 28 letters, each of which always has the same sound, except for variations related to the position inside the word. Other principles of the language:

  • 16 rules with no exceptions.
  • About 1800 root words.
  • No irregular verbs.
  • One conjugation.

Critics of the language have regarded it as too Euro-centric and that it could be designed with a simpler grammar.

Theosophy and Esperanto

Theosophists and Spiritualists were keenly interested in Esperanto at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. Mrs. Edith M. MacHutchin wrote in 1903 that William T. Stead, a friend of Annie Besant, was acting as printer for an Esperanto grammar called Elementary Lessons by John Charles O'Connor.

Mr. W. T. Stead has given three notices on Esperanto in the last three issues of 'Review of Reviews,' and further has given his kind an able support to the movement by drawing together, at Mowbray House, people interested in Esperanto to the extent of forming a club or society in London.[10]

A Theosophic-Esperanto Organization was formed in 1914:

The Theosophic-Esperanto organization, which is world-wide in its membership, held a successful meeting in connection with the Eighth International Esperanto Congress in Cracow (Austrian Poland) last summer.

It will continue with renewed vigor its two-fold task: This, of bringing Theosophy to the favorable attention of Esperantists... and, secondly, of seeking to persuade Theosophist to learn for their own purposes this easy and satisfactory medium of international communication, and prepare to adopt Esperanto as the ultimately officialized international language for all Theosophic Publications and communications.[11]

Theosophists who are known to have used Esperanto include lecturer Alwyn J. Baker, inventor Dinshah Ghadiali, propagandist Charles Ludovic Gutmann,[12] and Alma Karlin, a world traveler and linguist. Linguistics professor John Algeo wrote an article about the 50th anniversary of Esperanto.[13]

In July 1913, Alwyn J. Baker sent a postcard from Krotona Court to his friend Dangerfield in Berkeley. Baker was a nationally known Theosophical lecturer and a proponent of the Blue Ridge Brotherhood, a proposed Theosophical colony near Asheville, Tennessee. The message was written in Esperanto:

Lectures and classes

Numerous lectures on Esperanto were given by Theosophists for lodge members and the general public. One of the earliest presentations was by Albert Powell Warrington when he chaired the 1908 convention of the American Theosophical Society.

Mr. Warrington lectured on Esperanto, showing this movment for an international language to be one expression of the activities of the Masters to make brotherhood a living factor in our life.[14]

Mr. S. J. Moore spoke in Washington, DC, in 1913.[15] Free weekly classes in Esperanto were offered in Cleveland in 1909,[16] and in Washington, DC during 1911-1916.[17][18][19]

Publishing

The Esperanto Press and Theosophical publishing houses worked together to publish books. The Theosophical Publishing Society in London and Esperantista Centra Librejo in Paria jointly published At the Feet of the Master by Alcyone (Jiddu Krishnamurti), translated by William W. Mann in 1913.

The American Theosophist, 1913

Theosophical journals frequently mentioned Esperanto in advertisements.

The Theosophical Messenger, 1912

Book reviews of Esperanto books appeared in Theosophical periodicals:

The Theosophical Book Association for the Blind (TBAB) published books and a magazine in Esperanto braille, responding requests for such material in the early 1960s.[20] [21]

We have started out fifth magazine in a fifth language in Braille, with 65 requests in Esperanto Braille before it was started. Where the blind people learn Esperanto Braille is still a mystery to me, but they wrote to me in that language asking for Theosophy. Several of these rquests came from behind the Iron Curtain; news travels fast from friend to friend.[22]

A new magazine was promoted in The American Theosophist in 1913:

THE ESPERANTO MONTHLY, edited by William W. Mann. Publishers: U. S. Esperanto Association, Schaller, Iowa. pp.16 Price, 50 cents per annum.

This new little magazine is sure to make a hit. It is full of helpful points for the student of Esperanto, for beginners as well as for teachers. Every page of it is strictly devoted to the study of the international language. It contains Hints to Learners, Notes for Teachers, Idioms, Short Technical Vocabularies, etc.
S.U.[23]

In 21st Century

Esperanto continues to be of interest to some Theosophists. A website, Teozofio en Esperanto, provides articles and videos about Theosophy in Esperanto. In 2010, the journal of the Theosophical Society in Italy wrote:

We know we can count on the possibility that in those countries where the Theosophical Society operates there are Esperantists available to give free courses of Esperanto. Moreover, Internet offers further possibilities. This would allow to dream about the prospect to talk together in our international meetings and congresses using this language.

On a subtler and more refined level, we can convey our energies to strengthen more and more a thought-form. Thanks to this we shall be able to let "that" possible world stand out, where every human being will be able to know and speak the homely dialect to feeI the belonging to his/her tribe; where every human being will speak and write the national language with mastery in order to feel part of the history and of the culture where his/her roots come from; Iast but not least, in this world every human being will be able to rely on Esperanto to recognize him/herseIf, starting from language, equal in dignity, rights and possibilities to all the other human beings.

Believing, like Pythagoras and Plato, that the world expresses Logos also means deciding to feel oneself part of this project. Our Theosophical Society operates in 54 different countries, with 42 national magazines. Why not aiming, in a hopefully short time, at starting publishing the translation into Esperanto of one of the articles on some of our magazines, and then, later on, sharing it with the other ones? It should also be a good way to reinforce contacts with the other groups, bringing in an actual contribution to the cooperation and the common aims of our whole organization.[24]

Additional resources

Articles

Books and pamphlets

Books about Esperanto include:

  • Forster, PEter G. The Esperanto Movement. The sociology of the Esperanto movement.
  • Garvia, ROberto. Esperanto and Its Rivals: The Struggle for an International Language. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2026. History of Esperanto and other artificial languages.
  • Schor, Esther. Bridge of Words: Esperanto and the Dream of a Universal Language. Metropolitan Books, 2016. History of the Esperanto movement.
  • Sutton, Geoffrey H. Concise Encyclopedia of the Original Literature of Esperanto.

These are sources of books written in Esperanto:

Audio

Video

This is a sampling of the numerous videos available on the Internet in Esperanto:

Websites


Notes

  1. ↑ "Esperanto," The American Theosophist 14 no.8 (May, 1913) 700.
  2. ↑ "Magazines" The American Theosophist 15 no.3 (December, 1913): 234.
  3. ↑ "Esperanto," The American Theosophist 14 no.8 (May, 1913) 700.
  4. ↑ "Esperanto" The American Theosophist 14 no.8 (May, 1913) 700-701.
  5. ↑ "Magazines" The American Theosophist 15 no.3 (December, 1913): 234.
  6. ↑ Shakespeare, William. Hamleto, reĝido de Danujo: tragedio en kvin aktoj [Hamlet, King of Denmark: a tragedy in five acts]. Paris: Esperantista Centra librejo, 1924.
  7. ↑ Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. Iphigenie auf Tauris [Iphigenia in Tauris]. Paris: Esperantista Centra Librejo, 1921. 108 pages. Translated from German by L. L. Zamenhof.
  8. ↑ Schiller, Friedrich von La Rabistoj: dramo en kvin akto [The Robbers: a Drama in Five Acts]. Paris: Hachette, 1908. Translated by L. L. Zamenhof.
  9. ↑ Schwartz, Raymond. Prozo ridetanta: noveloj originale verkitaj'[Smiling prose: short stories originally written]. Paris: Esperantista Centra Lebrejo, 1928. Original stories written in Esperanto. 170 pages.
  10. ↑ Edith M Machutchin "Esperanto, the International Language" Light 23 no. 1147 (Jan 3, 1903): 2.
  11. ↑ "Esperanto" The American Theosophist 14 no.5 (Feb 1913): 407.
  12. ↑ "Notes" The Theosophic Messenger 11 No. 4 (January, 1910): 233.
  13. ↑ John Algeo, "Cantjara Datreveno de Esperanto" in Academica.edu.
  14. ↑ "Convention Notes" The Theosophic Messenger 10 no. 1 (October, 1908): 15.
  15. ↑ "Theosophy" Washington Times (November 15, 1913): 10.
  16. ↑ "Theosophy" advertisement Plain Dealer 10 (January 10, 1909): 7D.
  17. ↑ "Theosophy" advertisement Washington Herald (May 27, 1911): 8.
  18. ↑ "Theosophy" advertisement Evening Star (December 11, 1915): 19.
  19. ↑ "Theosophy advertisement Washington Herald (January 8, 1016): 7.
  20. ↑ Flavia B. Snyder, "Theosophical Book Association for the Blind" The American Theosophist 52 no. 12 (December, 1964): 292.
  21. ↑ Alanda Wraye, "Sight, Insight and Beyond" The American Theosophist 78 no. 3 (May 1990): 2
  22. ↑ Flavia B. Snyder, "Theosophical Book Association for the Blind" The American Theosophist 53 no.8 (August, 1965): 172.
  23. ↑ "Magazines" The American Theosophist 14 no.9 (June, 1913): 793-794.
  24. ↑ Piermichele Giordano, "The Theosophical Society and the Esperanto Language" Revista Italiana di Teosofia (July 2010): 32-35. Article in Italian and English.
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