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ModeratorPermalink Reply by John on February 10, 2014 at 4:32am

for those who may be interested, there are two easily obtained references to this Theosophical Society:

p. 168-169
The Western Esoteric Traditions : A Historical Introduction
by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke
Oxford University Press 2008

and (for William Blake fans especially)
"We know that a number of Blake’s fellow artists were Swedenborgians and met in the Theosophical Society (in 1785 renamed as The British Society for the Propagation of the Doctrines of the New Church), which among its members counter Philip de Loutherbourg, Richard Cosway, and Blake’s close friends John Flaxman and William Sharp. The latter two may have been responsible for introducing him early on to the pre-Church debating societies. David Erdman has suggested that it was probably Sharp, Blake’s friend and fellow engraver, who introduced Blake to Swedenborg, as they were close in 1789. However, already in 1781, Blake had befriended Flaxman, who joined the Theosophical Society in 1784."
(Robert Rix)  p.98           http://www.esoteric.msu.edu/VolumeV/Blake.htm

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ModeratorPermalink Reply by John on June 27, 2018 at 1:24pm

this is a decent reference....

Swedenborg and Theosophy: The Swedenborg Society: A Very Short History

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