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There are those who denigrate him by scoffing at his beliefs and supposed
delusional ideas but all this should be balanced by his tremendous
bravery. courage, and his discoveries during his African period.
Of all the people concerned with the later Victorian Occult revival Felkin
is ranked along side the greatest of them all. Wescott, Woodham,
Woodford, Yeats the Poet, Mathers, A.E. Waite and so on. Books of the Golden
Dawn have scattered references to him throughout, yet little attempt has een
made to produce inn any form some tangible recognition of his talents.
His life's work is in desperate need of a good Biography.
His Medical work in Africa and the U.K. as wellas in New Zealand
is largely ignored. Even in Havelock North his contemporaries have
streets named after them, however no civic recognition is evident, despite
his Herculean efforts during the great Flu epidemic 1918-1919, when none of
his patients died.
His sojourns in Africa led to health difficulties for which he was prescribed
by a fellow doctor a glass of whiskey each evening to help alleviate his
symptoms which he found in time, on his own admission, difficult to control.
As Chief Adept his role was limited as there was only one College,
Christchurch and it was in recess, even though he did attempt to revive it
without success.
Yet he was a pioneer of spiritual things to these shores and laid the
foundations and secured a legacy of which we enjoy the fruits today.
In my research I could find no obituary in the Society's records of his
passing. It was as if he had suddenly ceased to exist.
I can only surmise that owing to failing health he found it necessary to
resign as Chief Adept in December , shortly before his death on December
28th 1926 and hence "fell between the cracks'.
Some attempt has been made in the 2nd Edition of the History of the S.R.I.A,
to recognise him as a "Distinguished Frater" of the Society and there is
further comment that "as a prime creator and preserver of Rosicrucianism in
New Zealand, Dr. Felkin deserved better than this", With that
observation I would agree.
I like to feel that this College is a living tribute to his memory and work.
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