John William Brodie-Innes - PUBLICATIONS
List compiled March 2023
His dates: 1848 to 8 December 1923
His magical writings, not published during his lifetime as far as I know:
1983
The Sorcerer and his Apprentice: Unknown Hermetic Writings of S L MacGregor Mathers and John William Brodie-Innes
Edited by R A Gilbert. Wellingborough: The Aquarian Press.
1996
The Astrology of the Golden Dawn
Brodie-Innes as co-author with Darcy Kuntz as editor.
Edmonds WA: Holmes Publishing Group
IN PERIODICALS; mostly theosophical ones:
1889-1890: The Old House on the Canongate.
A history-cum-ghost story about a house in Edinburgh, serialised in Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine Volume 5 September 1889 to February 1890, editors Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Annie Besant. Published London: Theosophical Publishing Society of 7 Duke Street Adelphi. In these issues:
- 15 November 1889 pp189-94
- 15 December 1889 pp282-87
- 15 January 1890 pp368-73
- 15 February 1890 pp466-71
It continues into Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine Volume 6 March to August 1890, editors and publishing details as for volume 5.
- 15 March 1890 pp18-24
- 15 April 1890 pp126-34.
1889-1889
Inter-Relation of Supernatural Phenomena and the Ethics of Theosophy
Item 17 of 18 in Theosophical Siftings volume 1 1889-89. Published London: Theosophical Publishing Company Ltd. The Siftings were volumes of theosophical pamphlets; in no particular order and with each separate pamphlet numbering from p1. At least for the first four volumes, the Siftings had no editor. They can now be read at iapsop.com.
1889-1890
The Curse of Separateness
Item 3 in Theosophical Siftings volume 2 1889-89. Published London: Theosophical Publishing Society. The Siftings were volumes of theosophical pamphlets; in no particular order and with each separate pamphlet numbering from p1. At least for the first four volumes, the Siftings had no editor. They can now be read at iapsop.com.
1890
Concerning Devachan: A Fragment and a Vision
Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine Volume 6 March to August 1890, editors Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and Annie Besant. Published London: Theosophical Publishing Society of 7 Duke St Adelphi. Issue of 15 May 1890 pp240-242.
1890-1891
Theosophy and Modern World Problems
Item 6 in Theosophical Siftings volume 3 1890-91. Published London: Theosophical Publishing Society. The Siftings were volumes of theosophical pamphlets; in no particular order and with each separate pamphlet numbering from p1. They can now be read at iapsop.com. Some anti-socialist political views expressed in this pamphlet; also the idea that theosophists should focus on the long-term and not get involved with contemporary social and political problems. No editor was named in volume 3 but at the end of Brodie-Innes’ pamphlet someone had put in a note reminding readers that the authors of signed articles express their own opinions which were not necessarily those of the Theosophical Society as an organisation.
1891-1892
An Elementary Note on the Seven Principles
Item 16 in Theosophical Siftings volume 4 1891-92. Published London: Theosophical Publishing Society; and New York: 132 Nassau Street. The Siftings were volumes of theosophical pamphlets; in no particular order and with each separate pamphlet numbering from p1. At least for the first four volumes, the Siftings had no editor. They can now be read at iapsop.com.
1891-1892
A Christian theological work: The True Church of Christ, Exoteric and Esoteric
Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine volume 8 March-August 1891 at one chapter per month:
- 15 March 1891 pp23-28: Introduction
- 15 April 1891 pp141-45: Astral and Visible
- 15 May 1891 pp210-216: The Voice of the Church
- 15 June 1891 pp321-327: The Life Principle of the Church
- 15 July 1891 pp404-410: The Karma of the Church
- 15 August 1891 pp494-99: His Substance.
The serialisation continued in Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine volume 9, September 1891-February 1892, sole editor Annie Besant. London: Theosophical Publishing Society of 7 Duke Street Adelphi:
- 15 September 1891 beginning p74
- 15 October 1891; the last, beginning p151
As at February 2023 I haven’t found a copy of Lucifer volume 9 to check out the page numbers. The British Library seem to have lost their copy and I haven’t spotted one online.
1892
Review of Charles Godfrey Leland’s Johnnykin and the Goblins: A Theosophical Book for Children.
In Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine Volume 10 March to August 1892, editor Annie Besant. Published London: Theosophical Publishing Society of 7 Duke St Adelphi. Issue of March 1892 p75.
Charles Leland’s book was not a new publication. It had been published in London: Macmillan and Co in 1877. At that stage it didn’t have the theosophical subtitle. The British Library catalogue has no subsequent edition but perhaps there was a new print of the original one, with the subtitle, in 1892.
Then there was – apparently – a gap of many years before articles and reviews by Brodie-Innes began to appear in Occult Review, first published in 1905. Occult Review can be read at iapsop.com.
1917
Witchcraft Rituals.
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 25 June 1917 beginning p328.
An Egyptian Ritual Against Apophi and its Relation to Modern Witchcraft.
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 26 August 1917 beginning p75.
Some Celtic Memories
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 26
October 1917 beginning p197.
Dream Travelling
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 26
December 1917 beginning p366.
1918
Bluebeard and the Maid of Orleans. A Study in 15th Century Sorcery.
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. This was in two parts: Volume 27 January 1918 beginning p19: and volume 27 March 1918 beginning p164.
Psychic Help for Soldiers and Sailors
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 27
April 1918 beginning p211. This was a departure from the norm, into a subject painfully dear to Brodie-Innes’ heart: his son, in the army, and his son-in-law, in the navy, had both been killed in the War.
1919
The Tarot Cards
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 29 February 1919 beginning p90. There was also a letter from him in that issue, beginning p115: Dreams.
MacGregor Mathers – Some Personal Reminiscences
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 29 May 1919 beginning p284.
Mathers had died in November 1918. Source for this is apparently the death certificate, quoted by Robert H Johnson in Occult Profiles: Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers at the website The Midnight Freemason 2002.
A Haunted Church in Munich
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 30 September 1919 beginning p138.
The Lady Faustine (Verse)
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 30 November 1919 p253.
1920
Some Psychic Memories
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 31 May 1920 beginning p269.
Divers Hauntings: An Attempted Classification
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 32 August 1920 beginning p83.
A West Highland Bard and Seeress
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 33 March 1921 beginning p156.
Concerning Obsessions
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 35 March 1922 beginning p139.
The Cult of the Witch
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 35 April 1922 beginning p216.
The Story of the Sword
Occult Review editor Ralph Shirley. Published London: William Rider and Son Ltd. Volume 37 May 1923 beginning p296.
NOT EXACTLY A PERIODICAL; more an occasional set of volumes in a series, financed by Ye Sette of Odd Volumes:
1888
Ye Papyrus Roll-Scroll of Ye Sette of Odd Volumes
London: privately published. Printed by C W H Wyman. Sette of Odd Volumes 19.
1891
Scottish Witchcraft Trials
London: privately published. Printed at The Chiswick Press Chancery Lane.
Read by Brodie-Innes as Ye Sette’s Master of the Rolls, at a meeting 7 November 1890. Sette of Odd Volumes 25.
What is Ye Sette of Odd Volumes?
It seems to be a cross between a dining club and a folklore society; with a maximum of 21 members at any one time and a ban on any discussion of religion or politics. Three GD members were in it: Brodie-Innes; John Todhunter; and W B Yeats. None of them were founders – it had been set up in 1878. From 1889 to 1903 meetings were held at Limmer’s Hotel and seem to have followed a pattern typical of this kind of function at the time: dinner, followed by a speech by one of the members which might in due course be published.
Brodie-Innes joined Ye Sette in 1887 and was an active member even after he moved to Edinburgh.
He was secretary in 1888; president in 1911; and its Master of the Rolls 1913. Ye Sette met for dinner eight times each year. It didn’t take itself too seriously.
Sources for Ye Sette:
Ye Roll of Ye Members of Ye Sette of Odd Volumes compiled by George Charles Williamson. Privately printed limited edition printed at the Chiswick Press 1913: p19, p36.
As not all his talks were published I list the other topics he covered at Ye Sette meetings:
1893 Secret and Occult Societies
1899 Feudalism
1905 Romance of a Wandering Race
1907 MacCrimmon’s Lament.
And from the W B Yeats’ source below:
1900 Mystical Beliefs of the Western Highlands.
An Odd Note on Ye Founding and Early History of Ye Sette of Odd Volumes. Compiled by Ye Sette’s then archivist Ralph Straus and given as a lecture at Ye Sette’s 500th meeting on 26 November 1935. Privately published; printed at The Chiswick Press London N11: p5, p9.
Collected Letters of W B Yeats volume II 1896-1900: p530 Yeats was a member by May1900.
BOOKS and one PLAY:
This list is based on works by John William Brodie-Innes listed in the British Library catalogue. However, the BL doesn’t have copies of all the volumes below. Some I found by searching worldcat.org
1877 Thomas a’Becket. A Play in Four Acts [and in Verse]. London: privately printed
1889 Inter-Relation of Supernatural Phenomena. Brodie-Innes is co-author with Kate Hilliard. London: Theosophical Publishing Company. 24 pages.
This had previously been published as an article in Theosophical Siftings volumes 1-2 1888-90.
1889 The Curse of Separateness: Mutual and Interdependent Action of Karma and Free Will. London: Theosophical Publishing Society.
Read at a meeting of the Theosophical Society’s Cambridge Lodge. It was then published in Theosophical Siftings volumes 3-4 1890-92.
1890 Separateness and Modern World Problems. The Rosicrucians. Brodie-Innes as a co-author with Karl Kisewetter. London: Theosophical Publishing Company. 20 pages.
This had previously been published in Theosophical Siftings volumes 3-4 1890-92, though with an editorial caveat saying that items published in the journal did not necessarily represent the views of the proprietors.
1892 The True Church of Christ Exoteric and Esoteric. London: Theosophical Publishing Company. This had previously been published in instalments in Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine volumes 8 and 9.
The book was reviewed in magazines with occult connections:
- The Unknown World volume 1 number 4 issue of 15 November 1894 p191. The review was anonymous but was probably written by GD member A E Waite, founder and editor of the journal.
- Lucifer: A Theosophical Magazine Volume 11 September1892 to March 1893, editor Annie Besant. Published London: Theosophical Publishing Society of 7 Duke St Adelphi. Issue of 15 December 1892 p332. Again the review was anonymous; perhaps by Annie Besant.
1901 Statement of Facts on Behalf of...the Hon Arthur Gascoigne Douglas Bishop of the United Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney…. No publication details. This must have been to do with Brodie-Innes’ work as an advocate in the Scottish courts.
1902, 1903 Comparative Principles of the Law of England and Scotland. Courts and Procedure.
Edinburgh: William Green and Sons. Another edition was published 1903 in Edinburgh: Stevens and Sons.
1908 Morag the Seal. London: Rebman
This was reviewed in two occult magazines:
- Theosophical Review (the 1897 rebranding of Lucifer) Volume 42 March to August 1908, editor G R S Mead. Published London, Chicago, Benares, Madras. In London by the Theosophical Publishing Society now of 3 Langham Place: p377.
- Occult Review volume 8 issue of October 1908 p226; the review was by A E Waite, ex-GD, now of the Independent and Rectified Rite.
1909 Old as the World. A Romance of the Western Islands. London: Rebman
1910 For the Soul of a Witch. A Romance of Badenoch. London: Rebman
This was reviewed by “MC” in Occult Review volume 12 September 1910 p182.
1915 The Devil’s Mistress. London: William Rider and Son
1916 The Tragedy of an Indiscretion. London and New York: John Lane
1919 The Golden Rope. London and New York: John Lane
1924 Till A’ the Seas Gang Dry. London: J M Dent.
This was published posthumously: Brodie-Innes had died on 8 December 1923.
Source for the date of death: English probate registry entry 1925.
As one of three authors in:
1971 Witches and Witchhunters. Foreword by A E Green. England: S R Publications.
Brodie-Innes’ Scottish Witchcraft Trials was included with two 17th century tracts on witchcraft.
Another edition of this:
1977 Norwood PA: Norwood Editions.
As one of several authors in:
2015 Scottish Must: The Old House on the Canongate and Other Supernatural Tales. Edited and annotated by Noël M-E Rarignac. Fidelidad Publishing. Works by Robert Louis Stevenson and Rudyard Kipling were also the book.
IN OTHER PEOPLE’S BOOKS:
1896 The Cloud upon the Sanctuary. Originally by Councillor Carl (also seen as Karl) von Eckartshausen. Translated from German and with notes by Isabel de Steiger. Brodie-Innes wrote the Preface. London: George Redway. There’s a 3rd edition, 1909.
1926
When Violet M Firth (Dion Fortune) was writing The Secrets of Dr Taverner she took Brodie-Innes as her model for the Doctor.
First edition: 1926 London: Noel Douglas.
There are two much later editions:
1979 St Paul: Llewellyn; with an introduction by Gareth Knight.
1989 Wellingborough: The Aquarian Press.
Source for Brodie-Innes in the book: tricky. Searching with google I could see the same information on a number of occult and GD web pages. At www.goldendawnpedia.com it figures in a short profile of Brodie-Innes; though no sources are given.
Copyright SALLY DAVIS
14 March 2023
Email me, especially if you know of publications by John William Brodie-Innes that are not in my lists: at
Find the web pages of Roger Wright and Sally Davis, including my list of people initiated into the Order of the Golden Dawn between 1888 and 1901, at:
www.wrightanddavis.co.uk
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