Vera Stanley Alder
Encyclopedia
Vera Dorothea Stanley Alder (29 October 1898 - 26 May 1984) was a portrait painter
and mystic
. She wrote several books and pamphlets on self-help
and spirituality
. She founded the World Guardian Fellowship.
, near Alnwick
, Northumberland
. Her father David Julius Adler (born 3 April 1871) was Danish and her mother Sylvia Marie Stanley (born 12 December 1880) was English. Her first sister Karen, who later became a leading actress was born on 11 August 1901. Her second sister Sonya Patricia who married Sir James Marjoribanks
was born on 20 May 1910. Vera was a fourth cousin of Niels Bohr
, the Nobel Prize
winner and atomic physicist. Vera was educated at Roedean School
in Sussex
until 1914 and went to the Slade School of Art in London in 1917 to study portrait painting. She also studied painting in Paris
.
Vera first married Roland Hunt, a naval architect, on 12 June 1943 with whom she shared a common enthusiasm for esoteric subjects. They divorced on 23 May 1956. Roland later emigrated to California
where he died.
On 16 February 1963 Vera married Aage Larsen, her Danish publisher; the marriage lasted until her death on 26 May 1984, in Bournemouth
, where Vera was cremated on Wednesday 6th June the local paper noting that she had a 'wide ranging and exuberant interest in spiritual life'.
) at the Lyceum club in Paris where she had a studio. In 1927 she exhibited at the Cercle Nautique in Cannes portraits of Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark (niece of King Constantine I of Greece
), Baron de Saint-Marc and Aubry Smith (the actor and cricketer). She became a vegetarian and wrote seven books, one of which (From the Mundane to the Magnificent) she described as a “spiritual autobiography.” Her books have been translated into several languages. Her devotees include such widely divergent people as Elvis Presley
, progressive rock
musicians and hippies. One commentator described her as “A painter and mystic who was particularly successful in finding a way to join both technological and social progress with a mystic spirituality.” Vera founded the World Union Fellowship, which later became the World Guardian Fellowship that published the Journal of World Guardians and which continued, after her death.
[All the above were reissued in paperback from 1968 on by Samuel Weiser, 734 Broadway, New York 10003, USA]
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and 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:...
. She wrote several books and pamphlets on self-help
Self-help
Self-help, or self-improvement, is a self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis. There are many different self-help movements and each has its own focus, techniques, associated beliefs, proponents and in some cases, leaders...
and spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
. She founded the World Guardian Fellowship.
Background and family life
Vera Dorothea Stanley Alder was born 29 October 1898 at EglinghamEglingham
Eglingham is a village in Northumberland, England, situated about north-west of Alnwick and from Wooler. It lies in the sheltered valley of the Eglingham Burn, a tributary of the River Aln, about above sea level, in a rural conservation area set amongst rolling countryside, within of the...
, near Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. Her father David Julius Adler (born 3 April 1871) was Danish and her mother Sylvia Marie Stanley (born 12 December 1880) was English. Her first sister Karen, who later became a leading actress was born on 11 August 1901. Her second sister Sonya Patricia who married Sir James Marjoribanks
James Marjoribanks
Sir James Alexander Milne Marjoribanks KCMG was a career diplomat in the British Foreign Service and became British ambassador to the European Economic Community...
was born on 20 May 1910. Vera was a fourth cousin of Niels Bohr
Niels Bohr
Niels Henrik David Bohr was a Danish physicist who made foundational contributions to understanding atomic structure and quantum mechanics, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1922. Bohr mentored and collaborated with many of the top physicists of the century at his institute in...
, the Nobel Prize
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner and atomic physicist. Vera was educated at Roedean School
Roedean School
-Roedeanians in fiction:* Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward * Dawn Drummond-Clayton * Emily James...
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
until 1914 and went to the Slade School of Art in London in 1917 to study portrait painting. She also studied painting in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Vera first married Roland Hunt, a naval architect, on 12 June 1943 with whom she shared a common enthusiasm for esoteric subjects. They divorced on 23 May 1956. Roland later emigrated to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
where he died.
On 16 February 1963 Vera married Aage Larsen, her Danish publisher; the marriage lasted until her death on 26 May 1984, in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, where Vera was cremated on Wednesday 6th June the local paper noting that she had a 'wide ranging and exuberant interest in spiritual life'.
Career and works
Vera had a successful career as a portrait painter using both oil paints and pastels. In 1923, for example, she exhibited portraits of Lady Douglas, Lady Poynter, and Princess Tatiana Viazensky (granddaughter of Harry Gordon SelfridgeHarry Gordon Selfridge
Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr. was an American-born retail magnate, who founded the British department store Selfridges.-Early years:...
) at the Lyceum club in Paris where she had a studio. In 1927 she exhibited at the Cercle Nautique in Cannes portraits of Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark (niece of King Constantine I of Greece
Constantine I of Greece
Constantine I was King of Greece from 1913 to 1917 and from 1920 to 1922. He was commander-in-chief of the Hellenic Army during the unsuccessful Greco-Turkish War of 1897 and led the Greek forces during the successful Balkan Wars of 1912–1913, in which Greece won Thessaloniki and doubled in...
), Baron de Saint-Marc and Aubry Smith (the actor and cricketer). She became a vegetarian and wrote seven books, one of which (From the Mundane to the Magnificent) she described as a “spiritual autobiography.” Her books have been translated into several languages. Her devotees include such widely divergent people as Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
musicians and hippies. One commentator described her as “A painter and mystic who was particularly successful in finding a way to join both technological and social progress with a mystic spirituality.” Vera founded the World Union Fellowship, which later became the World Guardian Fellowship that published the Journal of World Guardians and which continued, after her death.
Works
- Stanley Alder, Vera (1938). The Finding of the Third Eye Rider (imprint)Rider (imprint)Rider is a publishing imprint of Ebury Publishing, a Random House division. The list was started by William Rider & Son in Britain in 1908 when he took over the occult publisher Phillip Wellby...
and Company, London, UK ISBN 0 0902 7343 5 - Stanley Alder, Vera (1939). The Initiation of the World Rider (imprint)Rider (imprint)Rider is a publishing imprint of Ebury Publishing, a Random House division. The list was started by William Rider & Son in Britain in 1908 when he took over the occult publisher Phillip Wellby...
and Company, London, UK ISBN 0 09 089700 5 - Stanley Alder, Vera (1940). The Fifth Dimension Rider (imprint)Rider (imprint)Rider is a publishing imprint of Ebury Publishing, a Random House division. The list was started by William Rider & Son in Britain in 1908 when he took over the occult publisher Phillip Wellby...
and Company, London, UK ISBN 0 09 027292 7 - Stanley Alder, Vera (1942). Wisdom in Practice ISBN Rider (imprint)Rider (imprint)Rider is a publishing imprint of Ebury Publishing, a Random House division. The list was started by William Rider & Son in Britain in 1908 when he took over the occult publisher Phillip Wellby...
and Company, London, UK ISBN 0 09 103810 3 - Stanley Alder, Vera (1950). Humanity Comes of Age Andrew Dakers Ltd. (Later republished as When Humanity Comes of Age Rider (imprint)Rider (imprint)Rider is a publishing imprint of Ebury Publishing, a Random House division. The list was started by William Rider & Son in Britain in 1908 when he took over the occult publisher Phillip Wellby...
and Company, London, UK ISBN 0 09 111801 8) - Stanley Alder, Vera (1958). The Secret of the Atomic Age Rider (imprint)Rider (imprint)Rider is a publishing imprint of Ebury Publishing, a Random House division. The list was started by William Rider & Son in Britain in 1908 when he took over the occult publisher Phillip Wellby...
and Company, London, UK ISBN 0 09 111811 5 - Stanley Alder, Vera (1979). From the Mundane to the Magnificent Rider (imprint)Rider (imprint)Rider is a publishing imprint of Ebury Publishing, a Random House division. The list was started by William Rider & Son in Britain in 1908 when he took over the occult publisher Phillip Wellby...
and Company, London, UK ISBN 0 09 138071 5
[All the above were reissued in paperback from 1968 on by Samuel Weiser, 734 Broadway, New York 10003, USA]
- Stanley Alder, Vera, The Story of World Union Fellowship (Pamphlet) The World Union Fellowship Publishing Company and Photospeed Lithographic Company, London, UK
- Stanley Alder, Vera (1976). The Time is Now! A Guide to World Regeneration (Pamphlet) World Guardian Publishing Co. and Comet Press Ltd., Bedford, UK
- Stanley Alder, Vera, The New World Civilization (Pamphlet) C.W. Daniel & Co, Ashingdon. UK
- Stanley Alder, Vera, Self Training in the Art of Living 12 talks on cassettes The Speakers International Agency, 29 Old Bond Street, London W1X 4LJ, UK, with titles: