BURGOYNE, Thomas Henry.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

The Mysteries of Eros. Omnia Vincit Veritas. Expressly Arranged for the Exterior of H. B. of L. First edition of this rare practical occult guide, expounding the teachings of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor in Britain (the H. B. of L.). WorldCat records just a single copy at Missouri State University and the original manuscript at Harvard.The Scottish occultist Thomas Henry Burgoyne (1855-1894), born Thomas Dalton, was an editor of The Occult Magazine and a founder of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light in America. He was a leader of the H. B. of L., which was founded in 1870 by Max Theon. Although sharing several key beliefs with the Theosophical Society - such as the ability to be visited by "Masters" from the astral plane - the H. B. of L. emphasized practical occultism, setting it apart from the Theosophists who warned against teaching practical magic. This divide led to a fierce rivalry between the two organizations; the Theosophical Society disavowed the Brotherhood's teachings, especially their increasing focus on sex-magic, and defamed them by drawing attention to Burgoyne's time in prison for mail fraud.

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