Italy, Theosophy in
The first contact with theosophy in Italy may be perhaps traced to the frequent presence of Helena P. BLAVATSKY there, where she undoubtedly met many persons who later became members of the Theosophical Society (TS). It is a matter of record that she visited Trieste, Venice, Rome, Bologna, Bari and Naples. It has been suggested that she was with Gen. Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-1882) and Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-1872), the italian patriots; the latter she apparently met in London in the year 1851.
Blavatsky claimed to have participated with volunteers at the battle of Mentana (Rome) in the year 1867 (H.P.B., Sylvia Cranston, 1993, p. 79).
Theosophy was an expression known in Italy before the formation of the TS. The Italian philosopher Antonio Rosmini Serbati (1797-1855), a Catholic priest, wrote a large work in eight volumes with the title “Teosofia,” which was published after his death, and condemned by the Catholic Church.
These incidents may explain the rapid growth of theosophy in Italy. The first Theosophical Center was established in Milan (1890) by J. Murphy, helped by Alfredo Pioda who also established the first Theosophical Center in Locarno (Switzerland) and commenced the magazine La Nuova Parola. The first Lodge and lending library was organized in Rome (1897) through the efforts of C. A. Lloyd and Decio Calvari who was the secretary of the Italian Parliament. This Lodge translated and published several theosophical books, among which were The Occult World and Esoteric Buddhism, by Alfred P. SINNETT. At about the same time Lodges were established at Genoa and Palermo through the efforts of the British Consul, Macbean Reginald Gambier. Later Isabel COOPER-OAKLEY helped to form lodges in Florence, Milan, Naples, Rome and Torino. The Section of the TS in Italy was established on February 1, 1902, in the presence of Charles W. LEADBEATER with Oliviero Boggiani as the first General Secretary. At Trieste the first Lodge was established in the year 1908, after the visit by Annie Besant, but probably a Theosophical Center existed earlier which was visited by the famous explorer and British Consul at Trieste Francis Richard Burton (1821-1890) who, it is believed, was a member of the TS at that time. Burton was of course the translator of The Thousand Nights and a Night (1885-88), popularly known as The Arabian Nights.
During the World War (1914-18) the activity of Italian Lodges was considerably reduced on account of military service (several members died) and the shortage of paper for publishing the magazine and books. At the end of the war there was a great renewal with an increase of membership, lodges and the printing of several books. Theosophy flourished until the advent of the Italian Fascist Government which adopted the German race discrimination and persecution of Jews. In order to be able to continue the work of the TS in Italy the General Secretary, Tullio Castellani, proposed to abolish the first aim of the TS in an effort to avoid a clash with the law. In a memorable meeting of representatives of almost all lodges in Italy on November 20, 1938, the proposal was rejected. The Fascist Government ordered the dissolution of the TS in Italy by a decree issued by the Prefect of Genoa. However, the meetings of the members continued secretly from time to time in another place, but this did not escape the notice of the police and several members were threatened with internment, harassed, and some were imprisoned and deported to Germany, such as De Martino of Milan. Some did not survive. The following is the text of the decree abolishing the TS in Italy issued by the Fascist Government:
The Prefect. According to the report of the local police headquarters of 30th November 1938-XVII it appears that the Italian Theosophical Society in the greatest part of its members is composed of persons who show little comprehension of the basic principles of Fascism and carry on an activity often in opposition to the politics of the National Government under the pretext of spiritual studies. Considering that many members of the Italian Theosophical Society far from pursuing any high ideal indulge, especially of recent times, in sectarian and demagogical manifestations; pursuant to the telegram by the Hon. Home Ministry n. 470-442 of 4th January 1939-XVII and according the article 210 of the law in force, of the civil police.
DECREES
The Italian Theosophical Society with its central seat in Genoa, Piazza del Ferro, 3 is dissolved; consequently are dissolved all Groups of the same Society extant at Genoa under the title “Giordano Bruno” and in the following towns: Bari, Forlì, Milan, Rome, Turin, Florence, Venice and Trieste. The police inspectors of Genoa and of the other aforesaid towns are ordered to execute this decree. Genoa, 14th January 1939-XVII.
The President, George S. ARUNDALE, appointed Giuseppe Gasco Presidential Agent in Italy and he held the office until the end of the war (1939-1945). After the war ended Gasco was elected General Secretary until his retirement in the year 1956. Immediately after the Second World War there was a great renewal of activity with new lodges, increase of the number of members and the publishing of theosophical books. The Publishing House “Ars Regia,” established by Sulli Rao with the help of Isabel Cooper-Oakley, had been wound up, but soon after another Theosophical Publishing House, “Alaya,” was set up by Gaetano De Martino. Subsequently, in 1952, at Trieste, the Publishing House “Sirio” was established.
The Italian Government granted an act of incorporation of the Section on September 15, 1980, by a decree of the President of the Italian Republic. From that time on the TS in Italy has grown every year and has been fortunate in receiving several legacies which have greatly assisted theosophical work. At the time of writing (2003), the TS in Italy comprises 48 lodges and centers with 1,296 members in good standing.
A series of initiatives were taken at Assisi in 2002 for the Centenary of the Italian Theosophical Society (1902-2002). In particular, a Congress was organized with the participation of eminent representatives of the Theosophical Society from all over the world (Radha Burnier, International President, Tran-Thi-Kim Dieu, Chairman of the European Theosophical Federation, Nelda Samarel, Director of the Krotona School of Theosophy, Diana Dunningham Chapotin, International Secretary of the Theosophical Order of Service, Phan-Chon-Ton, scientist etc.). There was also a historical exhibition showing the history and the development of the theosophical movement in Italy, including a wide range of documents, theosophical magazines and literature, and videos. Part of the exhibition was dedicated to the impact of the theosophical ideas on such notable representatives of the Italian culture as Giuseppe Calligaris, Aldo Capitini, Pietro Ubaldi and Maria Montessori.
During the past almost one hundred years there were published about 300 works on Theosophy mostly translated from classical theosophical literature.
The following is the list of the Italian Theosophical magazines which appeared during these years: Teosofia, Nuova parola, Bollettino, Et Ultra, Il Loto, Gnosi, Alba Spirituale, Il Teosofo and Rivista Italiana di Teosofia (1971-present).
The following is a list of the General Secretaries in Italy:
Oliviero Boggiani (1901-1904)
Decio Calvari (1904-1905)
Otto Penzig (1905-1918)
Emilio Turin (1919-1920)
Oliviero Boggiani (1920-1929)
Luisa Gamberini Cavallini (1929-1934)
Tullio Castellani (1934-1939)
Giuseppe Gasco, Presidential Agent (1939-1946)
Giuseppe Gasco (1946-1956)
Giuseppe Filipponio (1956-1962)
Roberto Hack (1962-1971)
Edoardo Bratina (1971-1995)
Antonio Girardi (1995- )
The Italian Section has been fortunate in attracting a considerable number of eminent persons into its membership. Among them are:
Admiral Prince Fabrizio Ruspoli (1878-1935);
Prof. Otto Penzig (1856-1929) a famous botanist;
Dr. Roberto Assagioli (1888-1974), founder of Psychosynthesis;
Edoardo Bratina (1913-1999) scholar and writer;
Prof. Bernardino del Boca (1919-2001) eminent anthropologist, painter and writer;
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), pedagogue;
Pietro Ubaldi (1886-1972) philosopher;
Prof. Giuseppe Calligaris (1876-1944) scientist.
