Thomas Lake Harris
Encyclopedia
Thomas Lake Harris was an American
mystic
, spiritualistic prophet
and poet
.
, England. His parents were Calvinistic Baptists, and very poor. They settled at Utica, New York
, when Harris was five years old. When he was about twenty Harris became a Universalist preacher, and then a Swedenborgian
. He became associated about 1847 with a Spiritualist of questionable character named Andrew Jackson Davis ( 1826-1910 ). After Davis had been publicly exposed, Harris established a congregation in New York.
, and is described as a man with low, black eyebrows, black beard, and sallow countenance. He was an effective speaker, and his poetry was admired by many; Alfred Austin
in his book The Poetry of the Period even devoted a chapter to Harris. Harris was able to compose verse in his head and dictate it in essentially finished form. This talent supported his claim that he was in mental contact with spirit entities such as "The Lily Queen." It also led to the leadership of a small religious cult to whose members received Harris's regular revelations from the Beyond.
, and opened a bank and a mill, which he superintended. There he was joined by about sixty converts, including five orthodox clergymen, some twenty Japanese from Satsuma Province
, some American ladies of position, and most prominently by Laurence Oliphant with his wife and mother. The community — the Brotherhood of the New Life — decided to settle at the village of Brocton, New York
on the shore of Lake Erie
. Its nature was co-operative rather than communistic
, and farming and industrial occupations were engaged in by his followers, numbering at one time about 2,000 in the United States and Great Britain
In Brocton, Harris established a winemaking industry. In reply to the objections of teetotallers, Harris said that the wine prepared by himself was filled with the divine breath so that all noxious influences were neutralized. Harris also built a tavern and strongly advocated the use of tobacco
. He exacted complete surrender from his disciples, even the surrender of moral judgment. He taught that God was bisexual
, and apparently, though not in reality, that the rule of society should be one of married celibacy
. He professed to teach his community a change in the mode of respiration
which was to be the visible sign of possession by Christ and the seal of immortality
.
, where he created the Fountain Grove
community in about 1875. For a time in 1876 Harris discontinued public activities, but issued, to a secret circle, books of verse dwelling mainly on sexual questions. In 1891 he announced that his body had been renewed, and that he had discovered the secret of the resuscitation of humanity. He also made a third marriage, and visited England intending to remain there. However, Harris was called back by a fire which destroyed large stocks of his wine, and remained in New York till 1903, when he visited Glasgow
. His followers believed that he had attained the secret of immortal life on earth, and after his death on the 23rd of March 1906 declared that he was only sleeping. It was three months before it was acknowledged publicly that he was really dead. He was succeeded by Nagasawa Kanaye, who led the sect until his death in 1934.
The utopian ideals promoted by Harris had significant influence among his Japanese followers. These included:
Harris's community left a significant stamp on the history of Santa Rosa and today that part of town is still called Fountaingrove, the round barn
that was part of the winery of Harris's protege, Kanawe Nagasawa, still dominates the area, and there the street, Thomas Lake Harris Drive, is named for him.
. His teaching was esoteric in form, but has been considered a thinly veiled attempt to alter the ordering of sexual relations
.
A good deal of the verse published by Harris in more than 40 volumes had what we would call today science-fictional themes. He depicted interplanetary empires, imperial cities entirely covering planets
, and the "ancient astronaut" myth, in which space travellers help early humans with agriculture, technology and spiritual development.
The Path (Vol. VI, February, 1892, pp. 346–47) printed the article “The Brotherhood of the New Life” by W. Q. Judge stating that the “The Brotherhood of the New Life” has nothing in common with the Theosophical Society. Judge is a student of Helena P. Blavatsky, the founder of Theosophy
.
The authoritative biography from the side of his disciples is the Life by A. A. Cuthbert, published in Glasgow in 1908. Containing language common to Harris's sect, it also contains some biographical facts as well as quotations. Mrs Oliphant's Life of Laurence Oliphant (1891) has not been shaken in any important particular, and Oliphant's own portrait of Harris in Masollam is apparently unexaggerated. But Harris had much personal magnetism, unbounded self-confidence, along with endless fluency, and to the last was believed in by some disciples of character and influence.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
, spiritualistic prophet
Prophet
In religion, a prophet, from the Greek word προφήτης profitis meaning "foreteller", is an individual who is claimed to have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine, and serves as an intermediary with humanity, delivering this newfound knowledge from the supernatural entity to other people...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Early life
Harris was born at Fenny Stratford in BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, England. His parents were Calvinistic Baptists, and very poor. They settled at Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
, when Harris was five years old. When he was about twenty Harris became a Universalist preacher, and then a Swedenborgian
Emanuel Swedenborg
was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian. He has been termed a Christian mystic by some sources, including the Encyclopædia Britannica online version, and the Encyclopedia of Religion , which starts its article with the description that he was a "Swedish scientist and mystic." Others...
. He became associated about 1847 with a Spiritualist of questionable character named Andrew Jackson Davis ( 1826-1910 ). After Davis had been publicly exposed, Harris established a congregation in New York.
Preaching
About 1850 Harris professed to receive inspirations, and published some long poems. He had the gift of improvisation in a very high degree. About 1859 he preached in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and is described as a man with low, black eyebrows, black beard, and sallow countenance. He was an effective speaker, and his poetry was admired by many; Alfred Austin
Alfred Austin
Alfred Austin was an English poet who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1896 upon the death of Alfred, Lord Tennyson.-Life:...
in his book The Poetry of the Period even devoted a chapter to Harris. Harris was able to compose verse in his head and dictate it in essentially finished form. This talent supported his claim that he was in mental contact with spirit entities such as "The Lily Queen." It also led to the leadership of a small religious cult to whose members received Harris's regular revelations from the Beyond.
Commune
Harris founded in 1861 a commune, or utopian religious community at Wassaic, New YorkWassaic, New York
Wassaic is a hamlet in the Town of Amenia, Dutchess County, New York in the United States.Wassaic is located in southeast New York State and surrounded by the East and West Mountains and along the Tenmile River....
, and opened a bank and a mill, which he superintended. There he was joined by about sixty converts, including five orthodox clergymen, some twenty Japanese from Satsuma Province
Satsuma Province
was an old province of Japan that is now the western half of Kagoshima Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū. Its abbreviation is Sasshū .During the Sengoku Period, Satsuma was a fief of the Shimazu daimyo, who ruled much of southern Kyūshū from their castle at Kagoshima city.In 1871, with the...
, some American ladies of position, and most prominently by Laurence Oliphant with his wife and mother. The community — the Brotherhood of the New Life — decided to settle at the village of Brocton, New York
Brocton, New York
Brocton is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States.The name was derived by combining the names "Brockway" and "Minton," two prominent local families...
on the shore of Lake Erie
Lake Erie
Lake Erie is the fourth largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the tenth largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also has the shortest average water residence time. It is bounded on the north by the...
. Its nature was co-operative rather than communistic
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
, and farming and industrial occupations were engaged in by his followers, numbering at one time about 2,000 in the United States and Great Britain
In Brocton, Harris established a winemaking industry. In reply to the objections of teetotallers, Harris said that the wine prepared by himself was filled with the divine breath so that all noxious influences were neutralized. Harris also built a tavern and strongly advocated the use of tobacco
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
. He exacted complete surrender from his disciples, even the surrender of moral judgment. He taught that God was bisexual
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
, and apparently, though not in reality, that the rule of society should be one of married celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
. He professed to teach his community a change in the mode of respiration
Respiratory system
The respiratory system is the anatomical system of an organism that introduces respiratory gases to the interior and performs gas exchange. In humans and other mammals, the anatomical features of the respiratory system include airways, lungs, and the respiratory muscles...
which was to be the visible sign of possession by Christ and the seal of immortality
Immortality
Immortality is the ability to live forever. It is unknown whether human physical immortality is an achievable condition. Biological forms have inherent limitations which may or may not be able to be overcome through medical interventions or engineering...
.
Later years
Harris took part of the community to Santa Rosa, CaliforniaSanta Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
, where he created the Fountain Grove
Fountain Grove
Fountain Grove was a utopian colony founded near Santa Rosa, California by Thomas Lake Harris in 1875. Most of its settlers were followers of Harris's Brotherhood of the New Life and moved with Harris from their previous colony at Brocton, New York....
community in about 1875. For a time in 1876 Harris discontinued public activities, but issued, to a secret circle, books of verse dwelling mainly on sexual questions. In 1891 he announced that his body had been renewed, and that he had discovered the secret of the resuscitation of humanity. He also made a third marriage, and visited England intending to remain there. However, Harris was called back by a fire which destroyed large stocks of his wine, and remained in New York till 1903, when he visited Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. His followers believed that he had attained the secret of immortal life on earth, and after his death on the 23rd of March 1906 declared that he was only sleeping. It was three months before it was acknowledged publicly that he was really dead. He was succeeded by Nagasawa Kanaye, who led the sect until his death in 1934.
Dissension and influence
The Oliphants broke away from the sect in about 1881, charging Harris with robbery and succeeding in getting back from him many thousands of pounds by legal proceedings. But while losing faith in Harris himself, they did not abandon his main teaching. In Laurence Oliphant's novel Masollam his view of Harris will be found. Briefly, he held that Harris was originally honest, greatly gifted, and possessed of certain. psychical powers. But in the end he came to practise unbridled licence under the loftiest pretensions, made the profession of extreme disinterestedness a cloak to conceal his avarice, and demanded from his followers a blind and supple obedience.The utopian ideals promoted by Harris had significant influence among his Japanese followers. These included:
- Arai Osui, who initially transmitted Harris's ideas to Japan.
- Hatakeyama Yoshinari (1843–1876), later president of Tokyo Kansei Gakko.
- Ichiki Kanjuro - commonly known as Mitsumura Junzo (1842–1919), later an admiral in the Japanese navy.
- Samejima Hisanobu (1846–80) later ambassador
- Yoshida Kiyonari (1845–91), later ambassadors
- Nagasawa Kanaye (1852–1934), Harris's California lieutenant who acted as developer and manager of the community's 2000 acres (8 km²) of vineyards near Santa Rosa. He also succeeded Harris and acted as leader of the brotherhood until 1934.
Harris's community left a significant stamp on the history of Santa Rosa and today that part of town is still called Fountaingrove, the round barn
Round barn
A round barn is a historic barn design that could be octagonal, polygonal, or circular in plan. Though round barns were not as popular as some other barn designs, their unique shape makes them noticeable. The years from 1880–1920 represent the height of round barn construction. Round barn...
that was part of the winery of Harris's protege, Kanawe Nagasawa, still dominates the area, and there the street, Thomas Lake Harris Drive, is named for him.
Publications and sources
Harris published a book, Lyra triumphalis, dedicated to A. C. SwinburneAlgernon Charles Swinburne
Algernon Charles Swinburne was an English poet, playwright, novelist, and critic. He invented the roundel form, wrote several novels, and contributed to the famous Eleventh Edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica...
. His teaching was esoteric in form, but has been considered a thinly veiled attempt to alter the ordering of sexual relations
Sexual revolution
The sexual revolution was a social movement that challenged traditional codes of behavior related to sexuality and interpersonal relationships throughout the Western world from the 1960s into the 1980s...
.
A good deal of the verse published by Harris in more than 40 volumes had what we would call today science-fictional themes. He depicted interplanetary empires, imperial cities entirely covering planets
Ecumenopolis
Ecumenopolis is a word invented in 1967 by the Greek city planner Constantinos Doxiadis to represent the idea that in the future urban areas and megalopolises would eventually fuse and there would be a single continuous worldwide city as a...
, and the "ancient astronaut" myth, in which space travellers help early humans with agriculture, technology and spiritual development.
The Path (Vol. VI, February, 1892, pp. 346–47) printed the article “The Brotherhood of the New Life” by W. Q. Judge stating that the “The Brotherhood of the New Life” has nothing in common with the Theosophical Society. Judge is a student of Helena P. Blavatsky, the founder of Theosophy
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
.
The authoritative biography from the side of his disciples is the Life by A. A. Cuthbert, published in Glasgow in 1908. Containing language common to Harris's sect, it also contains some biographical facts as well as quotations. Mrs Oliphant's Life of Laurence Oliphant (1891) has not been shaken in any important particular, and Oliphant's own portrait of Harris in Masollam is apparently unexaggerated. But Harris had much personal magnetism, unbounded self-confidence, along with endless fluency, and to the last was believed in by some disciples of character and influence.
Works
- Wisdom of Angels (1856)
- Arcana of Christianity (1857)
- Modern Spiritualism (1860)
- God's Breath in Man (1891)
- The Wisdom Of The Adepts: Botherhood of The New Life -- Esoteric Science in Human History. (1884)Private Printing. Reprint - (1975) AMS Press, Fountain Grove, Calif. ISBN 0-404-10721-4